Harvard Health Content API

As we age, maintaining mental sharpness is just as important as physical health. This report will teach you the elements of cognitive fitness, different types of cognitive abilities, how they change over time, and when to be concerned. You’ll also learn practical strategies to manage everyday slip-ups and protect against cognitive decline, helping you stay mentally strong and independent.

We all experience stress in our lives. While occasional stress is part of life, chronic stress can harm the heart, increase disease risk, and even accelerate aging. Alongside clear explanations of how stress affects the body, this report highlights practical tools such as relaxation techniques and resilience-building to help you take control of stress and protect your well-being.

Magnesium quietly powers some of the body’s most essential functions from keeping the heart steady to supporting muscles and mood. How much is enough? And when might supplements matter? Dr. Rob Shmerling answers these questions in this video edition of "Ask the Doc."

Lack of sufficient sleep tends to disrupt hormones that control hunger and appetite, causing you to eat hundreds of extra calories per day — in particular, quickly digested carbohydrates. What’s more, the resulting daytime fatigue often discourages you from exercising. 

Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and collards are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Many of these compounds are antioxidants that can help protect the brain.