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Home microbiome tests are pricey and not yet scientifically reliable. Stay on top of your gut health by skipping the test and focusing instead on following a fiber-rich, Mediterranean-style diet that minimizes meat and processed foods.
A long-running study found that closely following the MIND Diet was linked with significantly slower age-related brain changes, including 20% less shrinkage in grey matter—equivalent to slowing brain aging by 2.5 years. However, it’s not known if these changes translate to better brain function.
A study pooling data from more than 180,000 adults found that consuming more omega-3 fats (as found in fatty fish) was linked to 18% lower odds of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Regularly eating omega-3-rich seafood may be a reasonable strategy for reducing the risk of AMD.
More than 30% of adults over 70 have amyloid or tau (proteins implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease) in their brains yet have no apparent cognitive problems. This may indicate greater cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to compensate for damage.
Neurogenesis is the birth of new nerve cells, called neurons, in the brain. The ability to grow new neurons appears more prominent in super-agers, people 80 and older whose thinking and memory skills are as sharp as adults who are decades younger.
A 2026 study found that sleeping 7.3 hours on weeknights may be associated with better blood sugar regulation by improving insulin sensitivity—how efficiently cells respond to insulin and absorb sugar from the bloodstream.
A 2026 study suggests that people who engage in spiritual practices and communities are significantly less likely than non-practitioners to misuse alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs and better able to recover from substance abuse.
A 2026 study suggests that people who take GLP-1 drugs—prescribed for diabetes and weight loss—are less likely to develop a substance use disorder. Among people who already have addiction, use of a GLP-1 was linked with fewer complications such as overdose and death.
The glymphatic system serves as the brain’s cleanup crew. It promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain during deep sleep, flushing away amyloid and other proteins that can lead to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and Lewy body dementia.