Replacement hips and turmeric

🙌 Happy Friday! 

May is the month of flourishing, and that could be especially true for May babies. Research has actually found that people born in May have the lowest overall disease risk across 55 major conditions, according to Time Magazine. 🧠

Don’t fret if you’re not a May baby 😉; emerging research suggests that a healthy lifestyle (start here) may determine 50% of lifespan.

Other news this week: Turmeric for better bone replacements, the ‘Flicker stage,’ original art, and sitting in an unmoving car is good for your brain.

More than seven million adults in the U.S. live with joint replacements. Metal and ceramic hips, knees, and shoulders can be life-changing—but they’re not foolproof. Nearly one-third of failed implants involve infection.

Now, researchers at Washington State University are exploring a new (and natural) solution. A turmeric- and ginger-based compound that can make implants safer and more durable. Their findings were published in The Journal of American Ceramic Society.

In a study conducted in mice that need joint replacements, scientists coated the implant with anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger extract, which then slowly releases in the body over time. The effects were striking:

“The holy grail of it” is the fact that small interventions can have significant benefits, says Professor Amit Bandyopadhyay in a WSU press release.

Benefits beyond the implant: Curcumin—the active compound in turmeric—may support people with existing joint replacements, and it shows promise for other bone-related conditions, including:

Going forward: While human trials are still needed, the data suggest that the power of food, when it meets innovative technology 🤝 (“combining the best with the latest,” as study author Susmita Bose, a professor at WSU, puts it), can overcome incredible hurdles in mobility and healthspan.

In the meantime, why not start by sprinkling more turmeric throughout your diet?

Read next → How much turmeric is too much?

Why are women still being told their pain is “normal”—or worse, ignored altogether? In this eye-opening conversation, OB-GYN and HerMD founder Somi Javaid reveals the hidden gaps in women’s healthcare, from missed diagnoses to rushed appointments, and the breaking point that pushed her to build a better system. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, rushed, or unsure if your symptoms matter, this is the conversation to hear. 🎧

Listen here

Why do some people feel perpetually young, while others feel older than their years?

A new idea from Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley’s Your Aging Advantage suggests the answer may lie in “Flicker stages”—temporary periods when you feel younger than your actual age.

Kaplan says to think of it like the weather 🌦️: your “real-feel” age (how you experience life) can differ from your chronological age.

These stages don’t last forever, and they’re often followed by periods where you feel your age—or older. But the key, the authors argue, is resilience: setbacks aren’t permanent.

“Aging or growing older is [not] a problem to fix,” says Riley. It’s a mindset to work with, and it’s one that can help you feel younger, more often, and ultimately live better.

1. Rethink aging:
Don’t treat it as a steady decline. A positive outlook can help you return to earlier, more energized “stages.”

2. ‘Age on pace:'
Don’t retire at 65 just because you have to. Retirement, goals, and identity can follow your own unique pace.

3. Focus on your ‘lived age:’
Energy follows attention. Focus on how you want to feel and identify ‘flicker triggers,’ be it sunrises, exercise, travel, etc… that support those feelings.

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Two recent college grads have created a ‘Fitbit’ that predicts epileptic seizures, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

The device uses hospital-grade EEG technology in the form of a small, behind-the-ear sticker. It tracks brain activity and connects to an app that assigns a real-time seizure risk score📱.

People with epilepsy face a threefold higher risk of premature death, but proper (and earlier) interventions can help many live their entire lives without seizures.

The company, Theta Neurotech, is not yet FDA-approved—but a waitlist of more than 2,000 people is a hopeful sign. 🌟 If successful, the device could help many of the 50 million people with epilepsy worldwide to take earlier action, avoid injury, and improve outcomes.

→ Ask LIV: Get personalized longevity insights with our updated AI feature.

What is the secret sauce of making a friend? It could be a shared street or history, but it could also be shared wiring. 🧠 Research shows we’re more likely to be friends with someone whose brain responds to the world like ours.

Researchers at Dartmouth and UCLA used MRI and surveys to track graduate students’ brain activity and friendships over time. People with the most similar brain activity—in other words, those who shared how we think—kept spending time together and grew closest.

The effects on lifespan could be significant, as a deep connection can be linked to 50% likelihood of longevity.

“A meeting of minds:” Human connection may really be ‘a meeting of minds already tuned to the same frequency,’ writes William A. Haseltine, PhD. 💛

So, if you find that you and another person light up over the same music, or perhaps have a similar response to life, chances are that’s an opportunity for a friendship that lasts.

Join the Inner Circle: Consider joining the paid Livelong Women’s Inner Circle ^TM if you want science-backed women’s health support, expert access, and a community that makes taking care of yourself feel easier, smarter, and less lonely.

Mark your calendars: The Livelong Women’s Health Summit is coming to New York. Tickets will be on sale soon — continue to follow our newsletter to get the lowest price.