Can Resetting Your Body Clock Help Prevent Dementia?

Posted on 03/11/2025 by Boris Clair

Poor sleep, especially in midlife, has been associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.

We aren’t sure exactly why the two appear to be linked, though, and it can be very hard to unpick whether it’s an early symptom of Alzheimer’s vs an actual cause of it.

New research, however, has found that turning off a circadian (related to the sleep-wake cycle) protein in mice reduced their levels of tau protein, the accumulation of which in the brain is linked to dementia.

It also seemed to raise their nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, levels, associated with increased protection against dementia.

Why might your body clock be linked to dementia?

In the experiment, published in the journal Nature Ageing, scientists genetically removed a circadian protein called REV-ERBα in two groups of mice.

REV-ERBα, which helps to regulate our metabolic cycle and inflammation levels, also appears to control our NAD+ levels (the coenzyme we mentioned earlier, which seems to counteract the changes linked to dementia).

In one of the groups of mice, they deleted REV-ERBα proteins across their entire body.

In another group, the deletion only happened in astrocytes – star-shaped cells which make up a large part of the nervous system and help to support our brains.

For both groups of mice, the change led to increased NAD+ levels.

Speaking to WashU Medicine about a separate paper published in Nature Neuroscience, Dr Erik S. Musiek, who was involved in both studies, said: “There are 82 genes that have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk, and we found that the circadian rhythm is controlling the activity of about half of those.

“Knowing that a lot of these Alzheimer’s genes are being regulated by the circadian rhythm gives us the opportunity to find ways to identify therapeutic treatments to manipulate them and prevent the progression of the disease.”

What might this mean?

In the Nature Ageing paper, the researchers ran further studies that involved a combination of both the genetic deletion of REV-ERBα and a promising new medicine. This appeared to increase NAD+ levels.

The researchers suggest that inhibiting the protein may be more useful at certain stages of dementia, like early on when tau tangles are forming, than others.

“Our studies shed light on crucial neuroprotective mechanisms mediated by REV-ERBα in astrocytes and should help guide ongoing drug development efforts to target REV-ERBα function in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases,” the paper reads.

I Tried ‘Movement Snacking’ At Work, And My Back Has Never Felt Better

Posted on 01/11/2025 by Boris Clair

In my youth (read: a couple of months ago, when it was still bright out), I tried “Japanese walking,” “Jeffing,” and strength training to stay active.

Now that it’s cold and dark, and I have adopted the appropriate hermit lifestyle, it’s more about walking in what little daylight I can access and, to be honest, skipping the gym.

This is not, I know, good for me. Staying active in winter is good for our mental health and can even help to regulate our sleep as daylight disappears.

But I need to be realistic, too: I work from home and rarely feel up for getting my good (well, non-PJ) togs on of a gloomy evening or dark morning.

So, I began to try “movement snacking” – a trend that allows me to incorporate tiny workouts in between typing flurries.

Now, I can’t imagine a work week without it. It’s helped my upper back and shoulder pain a lot, too – I feel a lot less stiff and sore.

A quick midday walk on the left: stretching on the right

What is “movement snacking”?

It involves including multiple small movement sessions, like 10 squats or a five-minute walk, into your day rather than relying on a single large block of exercise.

A 2022 paper found that even one-minute bursts appeared to have health benefits in small proof-of-concept studies.

And a 2025 systematic review showed that “movement snacks” lasting at least five minutes, performed twice daily or more, “improved cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive adults”.

For me, that took the form of a couple of squats after writing an article or a little turn around the block during lunch. I reckon I spend, on average, about three to five minutes on roughly four sessions.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, said: “I think ‘movement snacking’ is an excellent and very sustainable approach to maintaining musculoskeletal health, especially for people with sedentary jobs.

“It’s realistic, easy to integrate into a busy day, and doesn’t require special equipment or a gym setting. Even a minute or two of stretching, shoulder rolls, or walking around every 30–60 minutes can have cumulative benefits for your comfort, flexibility, and energy levels.”

The doctor added that she often recommends similar approaches to her patients, “as small, consistent movements can make a big difference to how the body feels and functions over time”.

Can movement snacking help with back pain?

I’ve noticed that my upper back feels a lot less tense and sore now that I’ve begun “movement snacking” (and I think it’s helped my midday mood, too).

According to Dr Wylie, the two may be related.

“It’s very plausible that your improvement is directly linked to practising ‘movement snacking,’” she shared.

“When we remain seated for prolonged periods, particularly when working at a desk or computer, the muscles in the shoulders, upper back, and neck can become tense and shortened, while the supporting postural muscles weaken over time.

“This can lead to stiffness, discomfort, and even tension headaches. By incorporating short, regular bursts of movement throughout the day, you’re effectively breaking up those long periods of static posture.”

Exercise snacking may help, the GP ended, because “These brief stretches and mobility exercises help improve blood flow to the muscles, reduce joint stiffness, and encourage better posture”.

In other words, the trend may help more than your back – after all, some experts think it can help to manage your blood pressure, improve your heart health, and even support your metabolism too.

The best bit? From my experience, you won’t even notice you’re doing it – it’s so fun and easy, and helps to break up an otherwise monotonous stretch.

When Did Friendship Get So Expensive?

Posted on 01/11/2025 by Boris Clair

Ever heard of “wedding sprawl”? It’s a phenomenon that The Atlantic describes this way: “as couples strive to keep up with cultural perceptions and their friends’ lives, they can end up putting financial and logistical strain on their guests”.

And according to the Financial Times, “friendflation” – the rising cost of celebrating your mates – is on the up too.

They point out that the average cost of attending a wedding has risen to £450, while the mean price of attending a hen or stag weekend in the UK is a whopping £779.

Now, new stats suggest an even bleaker state of affairs: it seems simply maintaining close friendships sets women back £2,414 a year on average. For men, it’s £2,994.

Why has friendship gotten so expensive?

In this research, conducted by Rakuten, those surveyed listed a lot of reasons.

44% said distance was a barrier: on average, respondents said they spent £586 going back and forth to see their friends.

Birthday celebrations added up to a mean of £555 a year, while birthday gifts totalled £453 a year – drinks and meals, meanwhile, cost £465.

No wonder 36% of people surveyed said they prefer cheaper meetups involving things like home-cooked meals and walking.

Additionally, Prof Jeffrey Hall, communications studies professor at the University of Kansas and director of the Relationships and Technology lab, told the Financial Times that our lack of “third spaces” – places like parks, libraries, and shopping centres, where people can hang out without spending money – doesn’t help.

“There’s no question that this public concept of the third space [is] in decline. There are very few places that you can congregate that don’t have some sort of entry fee,” he said.

So, “people try to create friendship-like experiences that are expensive. So then it becomes normative to say I’m going to oblige my friends to go on this trip together”.

How can I handle “friendflation”?

Though just under a third (32%) of respondents to the Rakuten poll said the money they spent on their friends was completely worth it, that leaves a majority who are at least somewhat unhappy with the cost.

Bola Sol, a savings expert at Rakuten, said that setting up a designated “friendship fund” to manage these costs could help and says that being honest with your mates about your financial status could help them to come to cheaper compromises.

Still, that can be a tricky conversation to have – if possible, try “jumping the gun” and setting up your own lower-cost activities first.

“Low-cost rituals such as walking together, sharing a meal at home, and having a long chat can be more meaningful than expensive plans. Ultimately, value connection over consumption,” Dr Jenny van Hooff, a sociologist from Manchester Metropolitan University, told Grazia.

I Developed A Condition In My Mid-40s That Made It Impossible To Poop Normally – And It Gets Even More Embarrassing

Posted on 30/10/2025 by Boris Clair

My mother wouldn’t want me to talk about this; not here, where everyone can see me. What isn’t pretty should be handled privately… or so she taught me, and her mom taught her, and so on and so forth. But the page is a place of connection. If I’m not fully present here, then what’s the point?

To put it bluntly, my organs are falling out. That’s a slight exaggeration. “Descending” is more accurate. However I frame it, it’s a disconcerting thought. My uterus, well, there’s a sign on that one that reads, “We’re done here!” But my bladder and my rectum, though performing their functions poorly, still seem necessary. I can’t have them planning their escapes.

The news of my organs descending surprised me. Like many women following childbirth, I’ve struggled with “peezing” (a word contributed by Liz Lemon from “30 Rock”) and other mild forms of stress incontinence for a long time. But since my mid-40s, those problems have intensified alongside a more troubling inability to defecate completely.

So after probing in hard-to-reach places, a urogynaecologist pronounces me prolapsed. According to a handout my doctor gave me by the American Urogynaecologic Society, pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, “occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue weaken or tear. This causes the pelvic organs to fall downward into the vagina, similar to a hernia. Women may feel or see tissue coming out of the opening of their vagina as this progresses.”

POP can happen for a variety of reasons, among them muscle and nerve damage from pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal changes related to menopause, constant straining due to constipation, repeatedly lifting heavy objects and genetic predisposition.

To investigate the possible relationship between my prolapsing organs and my constipation, my doctor suggests that I undergo what feels like a new level of humiliation called a defecography. It’s not like a colonoscopy, where you theoretically sleep through the entire thing. In this case, medical professionals watch you poop while you are alert and fully present, live and on-camera. The test reveals whether there is some anatomical reason why you can’t eliminate properly.

I wonder if it’s worth it. Maybe I should just embrace my “pooping problem,” as my youngest calls it, and limp along without additional interventions. I can just live with the prolapses for now, right? It seems like the easiest and most peaceful route sometimes — just settling. But we all want more, don’t we? We want true healing. We want to feel better. We want to be fully restored.

I remain stubbornly curious about what could be, and schedule the test. But I give myself permission to say “no” the morning of — “no” when I get there and see what awaits me, “no” when they ask me to… you get the idea. I’ve never used the “no,” but having it emboldens me to be braver than I am.

“My doctor suggests that I undergo what feels like a new level of humiliation called a defecography. It’s not like a colonoscopy, where you theoretically sleep through the entire thing. In this case, medical professionals watch you poop while you are alert and fully present, live and on-camera.”

A defecography turns out to be as pleasant as it sounds. You suck down a bunch of barium and load yourself up vaginally with barium paste. The nurse then pages the radiologist: “The defo (that’s me) is ready.” She notices I’m listening to her — What else would I be doing? — and looks a little embarrassed. She apologises quickly for referring to me as “defo,” saying it’s only to prepare the radiologist for what he’s about to do. I guess referring to me as a person is too much work.

Then the radiologist arrives, explains the process, and inserts a large amount of barium paste into my rectum via syringe. If you have other anal issues like I do…a fissure, haemorrhoids, that last part is especially unpleasant. It’s hard not to feel violated unless your radiologist is gifted with an unusual amount of finesse. Mine was not.

Next is the fun part. You sit on an elevated platform sporting a special commode. With the radiologist and nurse next to you, you defecate on camera and on command. The radiologist stares at a screen to judge how well you eliminate and gathers evidence revealing why you cannot void completely. In my case, he found that my uterus descends and pinches off part of my rectum when I bear down, so I can only partially evacuate. Hooray? Maybe. I cry all the way home.

When I see my urogynaecologist several weeks later, she’s elated: “I’m so glad that I can do something to help you!” She’s a good doctor. She explains that she’d like to insert a silicone device called a pessary up into my vagina. It’s designed to hold up my uterus and prevent it from pinching off my rectum.

The pessary looks like a mushroom with a top that secures via suction and a long stem that extends down to my vaginal opening. Once I’ve assumed the position, she requests that I ready myself and relax. That doesn’t bode well. With significant force, she installs the medieval workhorse. According to the nurses, she “places” the pessary, but what I experience feels more like a pain-inducing shove. I arrive home feeling like I’ve got a tampon protruding and a little askew. I’m supposed to function like this for 2-3 weeks.

Unfortunately, the pessary changes nothing. The pooping problem persists. My urogynaecologist explains that she could still surgically fix the prolapses, pin up or remove my uterus, in hopes that stooling would improve. She looks at me: “What do you think we should do?”

My internal response is paradoxical. One part of me screams, What!?! YOU are supposed to be the expert! Why are you asking ME!?! The other ruminates, Thank you for acknowledging that I might have some wisdom to contribute.

“I’ll have to think about it.”

The end? Not really, and I hope not. But this is where we all are a lot of time. In between. In process. Unresolved. We all wander around hurting sometimes and can’t fix it. We’re all trying to make meaning of suffering while we wait for change.

But wherever this path takes me, I’m done with pretty and private. I’m done with the societal expectation that women’s bodies should look the same regardless of the trauma they have sustained, that aging should be invisible. My body is a ragged landscape of stories that I think I’m meant to tell. I am more than pretty. I am wildly, uncomfortably, unapologetically, fearfully resilient.

And so are you.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

Over-70s With This Hobby May Be 39% Less Likely To Develop Dementia

Posted on 28/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Not only are hobbies great for your mental health, but researchers and neuroscientists increasingly think they might help to protect your brain as you age too.

Take reading, for instance.

Some research suggests that reading twice a week or more can lead to decreased cognitive impairment, while neurologist and author of How To Prevent Dementia, Dr Richard Restak, said: “Reading for pleasure is perhaps the single most effective activity you can engage in for increasing cognitive reserve”.

And now, a new study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry has linked listening to music to a significantly decreased rate of dementia among over-70s.

Why might listening to music decrease dementia risk?

In this study, scientists looked at 10,893 Australian participants who were aged 70 and older.

None of them had dementia when the study began.

The researchers used Cox proportional hazard regression models to work out whether participants’ levels of music engagement (be it listening to music, playing an instrument, or a combination of both) seemed to be linked to their dementia risk from year three of the sudy onwards.

They found that “always” listening to music was associated with a 39% lower risk of developing dementia among their participants, compared to those who “never,” “rarely,” or “sometimes” did.

Playing an instrument was linked to 35% less risk, meanwhile, and those who both played an instrument and listened to music appeared to be 33% less likely to develop the condition too.

Listening to, and playing, music (as well as doing both) was also linked to less cognitive impairment in this study.

These findings seemed to be stronger among participants who’d had over 16 years of education.

“These results highlight music as a potential promising, accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive impairment and delay the onset of dementia in later life,” the paper reads.

Does this definitely mean listening to music will prevent dementia?

No. It only found a link, and not a cause – we can’t say from this data that listening to music is the reason people with the hobby were less likely to develop dementia.

Study senior author Professor Joanne Ryan, however, said: “With no cure currently available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay onset of the disease is critical.

“Evidence suggests that brain ageing is not just based on age and genetics but can be influenced by one’s own environmental and lifestyle choices.”

She continued: “Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music can promote cognitive health.”

‘I Cancelled On My Friend’s Wedding. Is He Taking The P*ss With His Response?’

Posted on 27/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Gulp-inducing news for the newly-engaged – it turns out the average cost of a wedding in the UK is currently around £23,250.

Which, I’m sure, makes the roughly 20% of guests who don’t show up despite RSVP-ing yes quite a challenging issue to reckon with.

But if you’re put in that frustrating situation, what are you meant to do about it?

Well, Redditor u/KeyManufacturer9764 says his friend had a pretty simple solution: when the poster cancelled on his pal’s wedding, he asked for cold, hard cash.

We asked Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert at Hitched.co.uk, and founder of Etiquette Expert, Jo Hayes, what they thought of the move.

The original poster (OP) cancelled last-minute

The Redditor, who introduced his friend to his now-wife, shared that he’d fully intended to attend and had booked a hotel.

But due to an “important work visitation” in France, he cancelled the wedding. In the comments, OP said he stated he wouldn’t be coming 12 hours before he’d have travelled, and 48 hours before the wedding itself.

“I know how insanely annoying it is with people cancelling, especially weddings late on, but I had no option for my future business, and [the work] will massively help me financially,” he continued.

He offered to send his wedding gift to his “disappointed” friend’s home address. And while sharing his details, the friend reportedly said: “By the way, as you’ll be missing the food, can you send the money to cover [your] empty spot, which is £95 per head”.

The poster said that the price is “taking the p*ss” for what he sees as a simple meal, and asked, “AITA if I question it or do I just send the money and stop complaining?”

The move is “valid”

Speaking to HuffPost UK, wedding expert Burke said: “I do think that it is valid to charge people who cancel at the very last minute”.

Despite the poster’s comment about the price of the meal “taking the piss”, she explained that “the average wedding guest costs couples £261, [so] it makes sense that they would want to recoup some of the costs – because they could have invited someone else if they’d had more notice”.

She continued, “It’s really poor etiquette, unless it’s a medical emergency or something that you know really cannot be avoided.

“It’s not just the fact you’re putting the couple out of pocket, but so many other things will be put out too; the table plan, the wedding favours, the personal touches that go along with being a guest at a wedding – it’s so much more than just not turning up for dinner.”

Etiquette expert Hayes agreed that “few people, with any level of decency, would pull out of a wedding with such late notice.”

Still, she said that in general – not in this specific case – “Bridal couples do well to have grace for their guests in such instances, and simply absorb the cost”.

The Most Popular Dog Names Of 2025

Posted on 26/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Just like baby names, dog names ebb and flow in popularity each year depending on pop culture, traditions and more.

One year, you may run into dozens of dogs named Ollie at the dog park, just for lots of pups named Luna to appear a few years later.

This year, though, many dog owners stuck to certain trending names, according to a report from online pet supply retailer and pharmacy Chewy, which uses data from the profiles users make for their pets to determine pet name trends and name popularity throughout the country.

When signing up for an account, users input the name of their dog, their pet’s birthdate and the type of dog they have, Ciara Lavelle, pet expert at Chewy, told HuffPost via email.

“By looking at this aggregated information, we can see which dog names are trending and celebrate the most popular picks of the year,” Lavelle said.

According to this year’s data, the top 10 dog names for both male and female dogs are:

Bella
Luna
Daisy
Lucy
Max
Charlie
Bailey
Cooper
Buddy
Sadie

Charlie and Luna are among the most popular dog names of the year.

Beyond the top 10, names like Cheeto, Brisket and Elphaba are also becoming more popular.

Even if your pup’s name doesn’t fall within the top 10 most popular, there’s a chance their moniker is still part of a larger movement.

According to Lavelle there are some “really fun dog name trends” going on this year; for example, food-inspired names are growing in popularity. “Cheeto and Pickles both rose about 25% in popularity since 2024, and Brisket is up 68%,” Lavelle said.

The popularity of the film “Wicked,” the first part of which was released in November 2024, also inspired some pup names, she noted. The name Elphaba, which is the name of the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Cynthia Erivo), has grown in popularity by 200% since last year, along with its nickname Elphie. The name Glinda, which is the name of the Good Witch (played by Ariana Grande), has grown by 175% this year.

A few other pop-culture names were favored this year, too. “Plenty of pups were named in homage to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away earlier this year. We’re seeing a 15% bump in dogs named Ozzy,” Lavelle said.

The popularity of this past season of “The White Lotus” also inspired 2025 dog names. “Remember the ‘Piper, no!’ meme from the last season of ‘The White Lotus’? We can’t prove there’s a connection, but Piper as a pet name is up 33% since last year,” added Lavelle.

What to keep in mind when naming your pet, according to an expert.

Naming your dog can feel like a tall task. Will it match their personality? Do they look like their name? Or does it sound too much like your nephew’s name?

“You can take inspiration from just about anything as you’re naming your dog — their color, their personality, or your favorite movies or musicians,” Lavelle said.

If you need some inspiration beyond the name’s Chewy has identified this year, American Kennel Club has a helpful list of ideas, including unique names, trending names and classic ones. (Storm, JoJo, Scout, Zeke, Kona and Jax are just several of the names on this list.)

It is important to remember that your dog’s name isn’t something that only your pup will hear. “You’re going to be yelling it at the dog park and responding to it at the vet’s office, so if you decide on something silly, be prepared to own it,” Lavelle said.

As long as you pick a respectful, not-offensive name, you really can’t go wrong.

“No matter what you choose, your dog will love it,” said Lavelle — “because it’s how they’ll be called by their favourite person.”

12 Things Millennials Do That Stress Out Gen Zers

Posted on 26/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Every generation has its quirks. Millennials and Gen Zers may only be a small number of years apart, but culturally, they often feel worlds away.

From the way they communicate to the way they approach work, life and even pop fandoms, their styles can clash ― sometimes in ways that really irritate each other.

We asked Gen Zers to share the millennial behaviours that frustrate and stress them out. Of course, many of these habits vary across individuals within the same generation, but certain tendencies and patterns still emerge. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Ominous Punctuation

“For me, a main millennial ‘ick’ is the dot-dot-dot or period of doom. Getting a ‘Sure…’ or ‘Thanks.’ makes it feel like I’m in trouble.” ― Ethan Hillis, TikTok creator

2. Over-Emphasis On Appearances

“They have a need to make everything aesthetic. Gen Z is very guilty of this as well, however, I think that millennials grew up with the rise of social media. Rather than listening to their favourite artist at a music festival or sharing a drink with friends at brunch, I think they’re more prone to focus on getting a good Instagram or Snapchat story. This just fuels what it means to live vicariously through social media, rather than in the moment.” ― Madeline Kerestman, TikTok creator

3. Passive-Aggressive Lingo

“The passive-aggressive work lingo. ‘Per my last email,’ ‘gentle nudge,’ ‘circling back’ … all of it stresses me out instantly.” ― Hillis

4. Getting Competitive Around Generations

“Making conversations about economic problems millennial vs. Gen Z instead of realising we’re all struggling, and different times had their own unique problems.” ― Ayana Williams, digital marketer

“Why is this a competition? Why are we battling between generations? I feel like millennials are constantly comparing their generation and saying things like, ‘Oh you guys have it so easy. Back in my day …’ I think millennials went through a really difficult period, so they might have a lot of resentment toward our generation. But in reality, I feel like Gen Zers are going through a lot of different challenges that the previous generation didn’t go through too.” ― Lavinia Gabriele, high growth startup manager and member of The Z Suite

5. Lack Of Boundaries

“I’ve noticed that a lot of millennials don’t have a lot of boundaries at work ― whether it’s that your work hours are not well defined and you’re supposed to be on at all times, or it’s asking personal questions. Millennials are a lot more open with their thoughts, and I think it’s a little bit stressful when they ask really personal questions about your life when maybe I don’t want you to know about it.” ― Gabriele

"Millennials are a lot more open with their thoughts, and I think it’s a little bit stressful when they ask really personal questions about your life when maybe I don’t want you to know about it," said Lavinia Gabriele, a gen Z high-growth startup manager. — “Millennials are a lot more open with their thoughts, and I think it’s a little bit stressful when they ask really personal questions about your life when maybe I don’t want you to know about it,” said Lavinia Gabriele, a gen Z high-growth startup manager.

6. Inability To Relax Until Things Are Fully Completed

“I feel that sometimes there is a very strong hustle culture where millennials feel they are always ‘in the trenches’ and life is about surviving rather than experiencing. Of course, Gen Zers are ambitious as well. But when there’s a big challenge or new project at work, I do observe that the millennials on my team are like, ‘Oh, my god. How do we survive through this?’ ― while the Gen Zs are a bit more relaxed and moving through it. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. We’re still going to power through. And I have friends and cousins who are millennials that tend to get really stressed out about planning certain things. Until the plan has reached a certain stage of being completed, they’re super stressed out.” ― Angel Aileen, member of The Z Suite who works in a tech forward beauty company

7. Withholding Validation And Information

“I think because Gen Zs grew up in a world of social media, we’re conditioned to get dopamine rewards constantly. So at a workplace, how that shows up is if we do work, we really want to feel recognised. Everyone has their different ways of feeling recognised or rewarded. But if they don’t get that, they feel very down. They want to feel seen, so getting a sense of reward or recognition makes a huge difference in the workplace. And millennials don’t necessarily realise that. But I really notice millennials who recognise and appreciate their Gen Z employees have better team dynamics. It’s similar with sharing information because Gen Zers like to see the whole picture of their job. If millennials share the big picture of what we’re all working on, then it’ll feel more like we’re all working toward the same goal and contributing to the puzzle. Gen Zers are happier when they feel a bigger sense of purpose in their work.” ― Aileen

8. Overwhelming Communication

“Slack novels. A whole LinkedIn-style essay in a quick chat app? I can’t.” ― Hillis

“With their communication style over text, they send like a lot of emojis, like a million emojis. And they’ll screenshot a meme and text it to you, instead of sending it to you directly in the app. And then the meme isn’t that funny…” ― Gabriele

9. Assuming Gen Zers Don’t Get References

“Not recognising some of us are Gen Zennials and very much remember late 90s/early 2000s references and going outside to play.” ― Williams

10. The Millennial Pause

“The millennial pause at the start of videos. They can just cut that part out.” ― Williams

11. Work-Life Balance Overload

“They lean a little too far into the ‘work-life balance’ mindset. As a med student myself, I am all about maintaining a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. I value hard work and believe that while it’s incredibly important to maintain a healthy balance, it should never be used as a way to do the bare minimum. I think the millennial generation introduced this mentality and took it to another level, which has normalised using ‘boundaries’ as an excuse to cut corners.” ― Kerestman

12. Taylor Swift Obsession

“This is 100% a personal preference, and I know I might get some backlash for this! For some reason, I feel like I associate the millennial generation with the ‘Swiftie’ fanbase. Taylor Swift is iconic and such a talented artist. However, I think her fans take it to an unnecessarily intense level, and I just don’t understand the hype.” ― Kerestman

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.

‘My Mum Expects Me To Care For Her In Old Age. How Do I Tell Her I Can’t?’

Posted on 26/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Over-50s own 78% of the UK’s property wealth, and the Financial Times reports that one in five “Boomers” are millionaires (largely due to soaring property prices).

But, like all modern wealth, this is a story of deep inequality. The Centre For Ageing Better says that roughly 18% of older people live in relative poverty; one in six over-55s have zero retirement savings, and 9-12% of rough sleepers are believed to be over 55.

Which means that renting long past retirement age, never mind costly nursing home care, is out of the question for many.

That might lead some, like the mother of Redditor u/Swimsmoke, to assume their children will help with their housing, care, and costs in their old age.

But, like the 6.6 million UK adults who say they wouldn’t know where to start with the commitment, the site user said they’re not sure they’re able to do it.

We asked Dr Barbara Sparacino, an adult and geriatric psychiatrist also known as The Ageing Parent Coach, how to handle the situation.

The original poster (OP) feels guilty

Writing to the forum r/AmItheAsshole (AITA), the OP said that her 63-year-old mother retired from her career 15 years ago but has been making money through a soap business since.

“She lives in a small studio and has a car but not much else to her name,” the woman added, stating that her mother is quite frivolous with her spending and likes to travel a lot.

Ahead of a hip surgery, her mum has started to think about what her future will look like and expects her 30-year-old daughter to “help”.

OP has a few reservations. Firstly, their relationship is a little fraught, and the poster says their mother delivered “bare minimum” care in their teens.

Then, guilt, money, and time come into it.

“I also feel some amount of responsibility for the woman who birthed me, a woman who had a hard and traumatising life as well – but I don’t have the resources to help in any real capacity,” they wrote.

“I don’t have money to throw at the problem, I don’t want to use all my time off for the year taking care of her, and I wouldn’t get paid if I take leave, which I won’t even qualify to take until another six months from now.”

She ended, “AITA for putting myself first here?”

Honesty is the kindest policy

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Sparacino said that, “Often, these expectations are unspoken. A parent might have spent years believing you’d ‘step in one day,’ even if that was never discussed.

“When you finally say you can’t, guilt and fear can flood in, but honesty is an act of love, too.”

There is no point offering something you cannot emotionally or financially afford, she added. So, try to stay clear-sighted and precise about what you’re really able to offer – even if that doesn’t feel like much.

“Maybe you can help plan for future care, find resources, or support them emotionally, but you can’t take on full-time or financial responsibility. That’s not neglect; that’s setting a boundary rooted in realism and care,” the psychiatrist said.

She recommends saying something like, “Mum, I love you and want you to be well supported as you get older. But I can’t be your full-time caregiver. I’d like to help you make a plan so you’ll have what you need.”

Dr Sparacino added that your parent might respond with fear, anger, or sadness.

“Try to respond with calm empathy: ‘I know this is hard to hear, but I want us to plan ahead so neither of us faces this alone,’” she stated.

“You’re not rejecting your parent; you’re protecting both of you from burnout, resentment, and crisis later on. Love without boundaries leads to depletion, not devotion.

“If you’re struggling with this kind of conversation, you don’t have to figure it out alone, reach out to a professional experienced in ageing and family dynamics for guidance and support.”

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

What Is ‘Chatfishing’, The Disappointing Dating Trend Plaguing Apps?

Posted on 25/10/2025 by Boris Clair

You might have heard of “catfishing”, which happens when people create fake or misleading profiles online in order to draw others in.

The term comes from a 2010 documentary, Catfish, which compared the practice to the catfish one of the cast members suggested were included in tanks of cod to keep them agile in transit.

“I thank God for the catfish because we would be droll, boring and dull if we didn’t have somebody nipping at our fin,” Vince Pierce, who helped to inspire the name of the movie, said in the flick.

But according to author and relationship and self-help expert Tam Kaur, another species has taken its place: we are now in an age of “chatfishing”.

What is “chatfishing”?

“‘Chatfishing’ is when someone uses an AI tool, like ChatGPT or Gemini, to write their messages on dating apps,” Kaur shared.

Though it doesn’t exactly sound romantic, the self-help expert said she understands why reliance on large language models (LLMs) like these is growing.

The machines, after all, won’t make an embarrassing grammar or spelling mistake, and they can make the “awkward” process of starting a conversation a little smoother.

“Using AI becomes a way to show up as a ‘perfect’ version of yourself, without the fear of rejection,” the expert continued.

But that doesn’t take away from the core issue: if the chat goes well, the goal is to enter a scenario in which you have no choice but to be yourself, in real life.

“Ultimately, many people use the tools to enhance their confidence with online dating, but they don’t realise it’s doing a disservice to themselves as they deceive their matches,” Kaur said.

“It is a very real form of deception because you’re presenting as a person who isn’t you. That doesn’t show respect to the person on the other end who’s trying to get to know you.

“Relationships, whether they’re casual or committed, are built on trust, and when you start something off with even small dishonesty, you’re disrespecting whoever you’re entering this relationship with.”

How can I spot a “chatfisher”?

It can be hard to spot, especially when you don’t know the person’s usual texting style, the author admitted.

But sometimes, “chatfishers” leave clues behind.

“If the message is from someone based in the UK, but uses American spelling, this can be a key sign. Most AI tools default to Americanised spellings, opting for ‘z’ instead of ‘s’ or ‘olor’ instead of ‘olour’,” she explained.

“A message that uses strange punctuation, which you wouldn’t see in regular text conversations, could also be a sign – for example, random hyphens or odd spacing before the start of sentences.

Most of all, Kaur ended, “it’s about trusting your own intuition. If something feels off or too curated, it probably is.”