Brain health is whole-person health. The idea that focusing on only one aspect of health, like diet or exercise, will result in a healthy older brain is naïve. We need to make sustained efforts across all aspects of wellness to remain cognitively vibrant into old age. Using data from the Chicago Health and Aging… Continue reading Long-term Cognition via a Healthy Lifestyle
Month: December 2022
Better Mood, Longer Life, and Mental Health via Avoiding Alcohol
Alcohol is an age-old nerve poison. Studies that show a slight health advantage to light drinking can never be done in isolation, so there are confounding factors such a socioeconomic status that may overcome the subject of study. Meta-analyses of alcohol consumption adjusting for these factors find that low-volume alcohol consumption has no net… Continue reading Better Mood, Longer Life, and Mental Health via Avoiding Alcohol
Long Term Cognition and Longevity via Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) is supported by evolutionary principles. Dr. Mike Hansen explains the benefits of intermittent fasting here. From this illuminating video: Our bodies are designed to be in the fasted state 12-14 hours per day. Fasting does not begin for 5 hours after eating. Eating good food at the wrong time is akin to… Continue reading Long Term Cognition and Longevity via Intermittent Fasting
Longevity via Exercise
Exercise every day: no excuses! Here is why. Exercise plays an important role in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of diseases, and is the basis of active and universal health. Exercise may be the best protection against ageing: it keeps the body decades younger. The most highly fit have the lowest risk of dying. We… Continue reading Longevity via Exercise
Immunity
T-cells to the rescue! T-cells (T-lymphocytes) are part of the adaptive (vs. innate) immune system. Influenced by hormones, they mature in the thymus into several types of cells, including helper, killer, and suppressor cells. These different types work together to attack foreign invaders. They provide what’s called cell-mediated immunity. T-cells can be fast-acting. As many… Continue reading Immunity