Beth Newcomb
Stories by Beth Newcomb:
COVID-19 brought bigger drop in average American lifespan than previously thought
The pandemic reduced overall U.S. life expectancy by over 1.3 years, USC research has found, with the effects on Black and Latino populations 2 to 3 times those for the white population.
Beyond genes and environment, random variations play important role in longevity
The USC-UCLA paper introducing a new conceptual model notes that only about 10 to 35% of longevity can be traced to genes inherited from our parents.
Phoebe S. Liebig, 87, celebrated gerontology educator and policy expert on aging
Along with her work at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Liebig spent two years as a senior economics policy analyst for the AARP Public Policy Institute.
Hormones in the brain may explain how exercise improves metabolism
USC researchers are studying the function of a mitochondrial hormone in the brain, and their findings could lead to drugs that provide the health benefits of exercise to disabled individuals.
‘Exercise protein’ shows potential to restore physical fitness and performance
Data from hormone research reveal new target for reversing age-related decline, according to USC study.
New findings help explain how COVID-19 overpowers the immune system
USC research offers possible explanations as to why older adults and people with metabolic dysfunction have more severe responses to the coronavirus than other individuals.
Beyond changing DNA, mutagens also cause errors in gene transcription
The USC research discovery opens new avenues of research for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
To better understand aging, look at both biological and social factors
Incorporating socioeconomic status and childhood adversity alongside biological mechanisms is critical for improving aging research, a USC study finds.
What history tells us about the long-term effects of a pandemic
USC research showed that people born during or just after the 1918 flu pandemic faced increased heart disease risk more than 60 years later. The legacy of COVID-19 could be worse.
Studying tiny worms could unlock new insights into human life
Two USC studies on diet and sperm quality in C. elegans illustrate how changes in the worm species could lay the groundwork for further research on human lifespan and reproduction.
Predicting the long-term effects of prenatal COVID-19 exposure
Infants born to mothers infected by the virus that causes COVID-19 could suffer from developmental difficulties and accelerated aging down the line, USC research finds.
How social factors impact our genes — and our health
A $2.9 million grant to Eileen Crimmins of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology supports multination research on how life circumstances influence gene expression and affect health.
What it’s like to intern — and live — in a retirement community during COVID-19
Nelson Rubio Argueta’s internship couldn’t go virtual during the pandemic; he was living and working in Kingsley Manor Retirement Community in L.A. The gerontology student discusses his unique experience.
Taking precautions to prevent COVID-19 linked to the media you consume
People who trust left-leaning news sources are more likely to engage in key virus-mitigating behaviors, according to research from faculty and PhD students at USC Leonard Davis.
USC/UCLA center gets funding to continue studying health disparities
Backed by the National Institute on Aging, the $4.4 million renewal will support researchers working to improve population health.
Dementia-related deaths in the U.S. may be higher than reported
Death certificate data appear to underestimate the true mortality burden of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairment, according to a USC-led study.
Tiny protein has a big impact on health and longevity
A USC-led study has found that having greater amounts of the peptide humanin is closely correlated with longer lives and better health in both animals and humans.
Why do females age differently than males? New study to investigate
A research project led by Bérénice Benayoun of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology will examine what causes differences in male and female aging.
By predicting new COVID-19 strains, USC scientists direct the search for a vaccine
A global, multischool collaboration that includes the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology aims to anticipate new coronavirus strains by examining how its genes mutate.
PhD graduate to study health disparities, including impact of COVID-19 on Puerto Rican older adults
Catherine Pérez Garcia, a first-generation college student, will continue her research on health disparities in minority populations.
Could diets that mimic fasting improve people’s immune systems?
Valter Longo of the USC Longevity Institute is investigating how fasting and fasting-mimicking diets may boost the body’s response to viruses.
As COVID-19 spreads, end-of-life planning is more important than ever
The seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic should encourage conversations about care preferences and end-of-life wishes, says an associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.
Bridging generational divides can help people of all ages fight COVID-19
COVID-19 media coverage has largely pitted younger people against those whose age makes them more vulnerable to the virus. But USC gerontologists say intergenerational programs that efforts to bring seniors and young people together in everyday life could build more understanding.
Nutrition or pathogen? Balancing healthy metabolism and stress resistance
A study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology indicates that the negative long-term effects of fighting off infections could be mitigated by tweaking how a specific gene directs cells to respond to stressors.