Myriad factors drive how countries age at different rates, including health, social equity and the environment. And understanding them can allow for intervention to prevent rapid aging.

What factors affect aging rates?
A study published in the journal Nature Medicine examined 161,981 participants from 40 countries, including 27 in Europe, seven in Latin America, four in Asia and two in Africa, to determine their "biobehavioral age gap." This is the difference between a person's true chronological age and their age determined by examining their exposome or the "combined physical and social exposures experienced throughout life," said Nature. 

Some of the factors were predictable, including medical ones like high blood pressure, heart disease, alcohol consumption, sleep problems and diabetes. But there were also some surprising sociopolitical factors. "Healthy aging, it turns out, is strongly tied to whether politicians act in your interest, having freedom for political parties, whether there are democratic elections, and if you have the right to vote," said the BBC. Faster aging was linked to lower national income levels, exposure to air pollution, social inequality and gender inequality.

European countries had the highest levels of healthy aging, with Denmark topping the list. Egypt and South Africa had the fastest agers, and Latin American countries also showed faster aging. Asian countries were in the middle. And there may be more to the story as non-Europeans are largely underrepresented in the study. 

Can these factors be addressed?
"Environmental and political conditions leave measurable fingerprints across 40 countries," said Hernan Hernandez, a co-first-author of the study, in a statement. The researchers tie the gap in aging to potentially high levels of stress, which can be worsened by political uncertainty. 

Certain factors were shown to protect against rapid aging, including "education, ability to perform activities of daily living, and sound cognitive abilities," said Nature. Others included "physical activity, good memory, and the ability to walk well." Knowing this could allow for early intervention through lifestyle changes.

Risk factors had a stronger impact than protective ones. To remedy this, systemic change is necessary. Governments "must urgently act to reshape environments," said Hernando Santamaria-Garcia, a co-first-author of the study, in a statement, "from reducing air pollution to strengthening democratic institutions."

Most players selected in the first round of Major League Baseball's amateur player draft, instituted in 1965, have played at least one game in the majors. But injuries, bad luck and disappointing performances have resulted in draft infamy for some unlucky athletes. These are some of the biggest busts, organized by career wins above replacement (WAR).

Steve Chilcott, New York Mets (0 WAR)
In 1966, the New York Mets used the first pick in the draft on Chilcott, a "hard-hitting catcher" the team drafted out of high school, said The New York Times. Infamously, the Kansas City Athletics took future Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson with the second pick. 

Chilcott was "actually hitting well in the Florida State League in 1967" when he suffered a shoulder injury that completely derailed his career, said ESPN. He briefly reached Triple-A but remains one of just three No. 1 picks who never reached the major leagues.

Brien Taylor, New York Yankees (0 WAR)
This hard-throwing right-hander was a key figure in dramatically increasing signing bonuses for baseball's amateur draft picks. Represented by superagent Scott Boras, Taylor held out for a then-record $1.55 million bonus after the Yankees selected him in the 1991 draft. 

Taylor was blowing through the minor leagues when he got into a fistfight to protect his brother and "fell or was thrown onto his left shoulder while wrestling" a man in 1993, said the Society for American Baseball Research. The injury eventually required surgery, and Taylor never regained the form that made him a phenom.

Henry Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates (-1.4 WAR)
In fairness, the jury is still out on Davis, a catcher currently playing for the Pirates, albeit not very well. In 2021, the Pirates "took him knowing he probably wasn't the best player in the draft" because paying him a smaller bonus "allowed the Pirates to overpay for highly touted high schoolers with their next three picks," said Fangraphs. One of them, pitcher Bubba Chandler, is the team's best prospect today, but Davis continues to struggle, hitting just .198 with four home runs through the 2025 All-Star break.