Telomeres - the little stretches of DNA that hold our chromosomes together - could have the answers to switching off the ageing process.

One of the most successful authors in British history, with legions of fans and millions of pounds to her name is not immune to pressure.

I was slightly puzzled recently when I received an invitation to contribute to a second edition of a title called Grumpy Old Men, writes Peter Bromhead.

A woman who left her mother in an appalling state of neglect should be sent to prison for a long time after committing one of the worst cases of elder abuse this country has seen, Grey Power says.

When you're young, you never imagine you're going to grow old, writes Kerre McIvor. In fact, when you're young, you don't actually want to grow old.

It's a sunny weekday morning and the lounge of Maygrove Village in Orewa is sparsely populated.

"I'm not looking forward to July 28 this year," I gloomily announced, "on that date, I'll be especially reminded that I'm getting old."

This ageing process is such a bitch, writes Robyn Yousef. In your mind you're still a rampant teenager, but your flesh expands, then folds and drops, pieces dry out and random people start addressing you as "dear".

The country's major rest home chains are facing a legal battle over pay as the unions representing aged care workers bring proceedings under the Equal Pay Act.

A two-month Herald investigation of rest homes has found some major failings - including a confused married woman "mauled" by a resident and a 9-month scabies outbreak.

Full rest home and private hospital audit reports will be published online from tomorrow in a six-month trial to see whether people read them.

Retired air force warrant officer Frank Bailey, MBE, has never been a complainer. But when he speaks of his late wife, Lilian, he chokes up.

Most people will welcome Grey Power's call for an Aged Care Commissioner to tackle the rising incidence of financial abuse of vulnerable older Kiwis, writes Sue Kedgley.

Think a typical Kiwi entrepreneur is young and tech-savvy? Think again.

Prime Minister John Key has his head in the sand with his block on raising the retirement age and is more interested in clinging to power.

Auckland neuro-scientists have made important discoveries in how Alzheimer's and Parkinson's may affect the brain.

When people have expressed concern about me climbing Kilimanjaro, going hot-air ballooning or even running marathons, my response has been the same.

One in five pensioners is still in paid employment - a figure fuelled by finance company collapses, divorce and the cost of living, experts say.

Frank Glavish last year became the oldest person to give evidence in a district court when he stood in the dock and faced a woman who had ripped him off after posing as a long-lost relative.

Each has his own answer to longevity, but it's likely the Mossman triplets have all reached 90 because they're so competitive none wants to be the first to die.