Blood levels of proteins reflect the starting, stopping, and changing of biological processes linked to aging. We make significant changes at three ages. — “The wiser mind mourns less for what age takes away than what it leaves behind.” This is the insightful observation of William Wordsworth (1770–1850), the English romantic who (along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge) helped initiate the Romantic Age in English literature. Together, they published Lyrical Ballads in 1798.

A RECENT NEW YORK TIMES newspaper column asks, “Can Certain Foods Really Stave Off Dementia?” Today we explore whether you can use diet to reduce your risk of suffering from this memory-robbing condition. Dementia is a group of cognitive disorders that affect a person’s ability to think, remember, and reason…

DRINKING COFFEE MIGHT MAKE YOU MOVE MORE but sleep less. Moreover, coffee might raise your risk for one type of heart palpitation. Those are the new findings from a small study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Unfortunately, most clinical research on coffee and health has been…

THERE IS AN LINK BETWEEN ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE and high blood pressure (hypertension). This association remains after controlling for air pollution. Those are the findings of a new thought-provoking study using data from the United Kingdom Biobank. I very much enjoy walking outdoors, preferably around trees. I prescribe physical activity…

BALANCE TRAINING IS AN ESSENTIAL but often neglected skill. Many begin to lose balance by age 40. Today we explore a remarkably simple way to assess your ability to balance. Falls are the second leading cause of death due to unintentional injury worldwide. A simple and inexpensive test to assess…

ZONE 2 TRAINING IS A CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE approach that involves training at a moderate intensity. This approach can improve your aerobic capacity and endurance while promoting recovery. Have you heard the saying, “Train slow to run fast?” Virtually all elite athletes incorporate a polarized training program. In contrast, casual runners…

Running improves heart health, builds muscle, and increases bone density. — Running is a popular physical activity that can offer numerous benefits for physical and mental health. Today we explore 8 benefits of running. This exercise form has been around for centuries. …

A new study is the first to find brain structure in infants predicting musical aptitude. — A NEW STUDY IS THE FIRST to reveal neurobiological predispositions for musical talent. Infant brain structure predicts musical aptitude. We already know that the brains of musicians and non-musicians differ by imaging. Moreover, musicians demonstrate greater neuroplasticity, with a greater ability to change and adapt to life experiences. Today we…

RUNNING OUTSIDE OFTEN EXPOSES YOU TO FOLIAGE, which can lower stress hormone levels. On the other hand, treadmill running allows you to set the incline, pace, and duration of your workout. Today we explore the advantages and disadvantages of running outdoors versus indoors. While I am more of a walker…