Monday, June 8, 2026
Can This Classic Exercise Really Predict Heart Disease? What The Research Shows by mindbodygreen
I haven't been able to do any pushups for 20 years now, all due my doctor's COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE TO CURE SPASTICITY! I'll never forgive him for that failure!
Can This Classic Exercise Really Predict Heart Disease? What The Research Shows
Microglial State Transitions Dictate Alzheimer’s
Are your doctor and hospital competent enough to ensure the research continues to EXACTLY providing a prevention protocol! Or is your board of directors so incompetent they don't know that this prevention research is needed for stroke patients?
Microglial State Transitions Dictate Alzheimer’s
Summary: Researchers unmasked a critical cellular transition that dictates whether Alzheimer’s disease pathology triggers clinical dementia. The research analyzed brain tissue from older adults, including cognitively healthy centenarians, to map how the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia, alter their behavioral states in response to pathological proteins.
The findings establish that cognitive resilience is an active cellular mechanism driven by distinct microglial programs that can uncouple amyloid-beta and tau accumulation from neurodegeneration, offering high-priority therapeutic pathways to arrest disease progression before a definitive cognitive tipping point is crossed.
Key Facts
- The Pathology Paradox: Alzheimer’s disease affects over 55 million people globally, but the presence of classic amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles does not automatically guarantee a dementia diagnosis. Some individuals maintain flawless cognitive health despite heavy biomarker burdens, pointing to an active cellular resilience mechanism.
- Mapping Six Distinct Tissue Domains: Utilizing high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing on human donor material, the team successfully identified six distinct tissue zones that characterize the spatial and temporal stages of Alzheimer’s progression.
- The Inflammatory to Antigen-Presenting Transition: Investigators unmasked a profound behavioral pivot in microglial state programming:
- Early Stage: Microglia adopt a highly localized inflammatory state tightly bound to amyloid-beta plaques.
- Late Stage: The cells transition into an antigen-presenting immune state that emerges alongside destructive tau pathology and active neurodegeneration.
- Two Distinct Routes to Resilience: The data revealed that the brain can actively resist clinical decline through two separate age-dependent biological pathways:
- The Octogenarian Track: Individuals in their 80s who accumulated extensive plaque burdens without developing dementia showed the early microglial response but successfully blocked the transition into the late-stage degenerative immune state.
- The Centenarian Track: Cognitively healthy individuals over the age of 100 activated the late-stage microglial program, but the response was entirely uncoupled from tau accumulation and harmful neurodegenerative effects.
- Targeting the Tipping Point: Lead authors Professor Bart De Strooper and Professor Mark Fiers emphasize that future therapeutic intervention must target these specific microglial shifts, particularly pathways like TREM2, to preserve early beneficial responses before inflammatory states cross the threshold into tau-driven cognitive decline.
Source: VIB
Researchers from VIB, KU Leuven, the UK-DRI and Muna Therapeutics, funded by, among others, ERC, have uncovered a critical biological transition that may determine whether Alzheimer’s disease pathology leads to dementia.
Studying brain tissue from older adults with and without cognitive decline, as well as cognitively healthy centenarians, the team identified distinct cellular programs and immune-cell states associated with disease progression and resilience.
Their findings, published in Nature Medicine, suggest that changes in microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells—could represent an important target for future Alzheimer’s therapies.
“This has been an exciting journey with many partners. The study, entirely based on human donor material, provides insight into one type of resilience mechanism in the progression of AD to dementia,” says Prof. Bart De Strooper (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Neuroscience, KU Leuven), ERC grantee and one of the co-senior authors of the study.Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 55 million people worldwide and is marked by the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles in the brain. Yet the relationship between these hallmarks and dementia is not straightforward: some individuals remain cognitively healthy despite having plaques and tangles. Scientists increasingly believe that the answer lies in how different brain cells respond to these proteins.
Among the most important players are microglia, the brain’s immune cells, whose activity changes dramatically as the disease progresses. Understanding these cellular responses could reveal why some people are resilient to Alzheimer’s disease and help identify new therapeutic targets.
The new study reveals that individuals who remain cognitively healthy despite Alzheimer’s pathology do so through distinct biological mechanisms. By comparing the brains of people with and without dementia, as well as cognitively healthy centenarians (people over the age of 100 years), the researchers identified unique microglial responses associated with resilience against Alzheimer’s disease, providing new insights into how the brain can resist the effects of the condition.
“Understanding better how the brain resists the disease will provide new avenues towards therapies to prevent neurodegeneration and dementia,” adds Prof. Mark Fiers (VIB-KU Leuven), co-senior author of the study.Mapping a critical transition in Alzheimer’s disease
To investigate this resilience, the research team combined technologies that can analyze tissues at the level of single cells (spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing), and they identified six distinct tissue domains representing different stages of Alzheimer’s disease progression. A key turning point emerged between domains associated primarily with amyloid-β plaques and those linked to tau pathology and neurodegeneration.
This transition was accompanied by a striking change in microglia. Early in the disease process, these cells adopted an inflammatory state associated with amyloid plaques. Later, they switched to a distinct antigen-presenting state that appeared alongside the emergence of tau pathology. The findings suggest that this cellular transition may represent a critical step determining whether Alzheimer’s pathology progresses toward dementia.The study also revealed that resilience to Alzheimer’s disease can arise through different biological mechanisms. Octogenarians who accumulated amyloid plaques but remained free of dementia showed an early microglial response but did not transition into the later immune state associated with disease progression.
Centenarians displayed a different pattern. Although they activated the later microglial program, this response occurred largely independently of tau accumulation. In other words, a cellular state linked to neurodegeneration in some individuals appeared to be uncoupled from harmful effects in others. These findings suggest that resilience is not simply the absence of pathology, but the brain’s ability to alter how it responds to it.
These insights could help guide the development of more precise therapies. Molecules aimed at preserving beneficial early microglial responses and involved in microglial state transitions could represent valuable therapeutic targets. Moreover, interventions may be most effective when applied before the brain reaches the tipping point where inflammatory responses become linked to tau pathology and cognitive decline.
“These findings open new opportunities to target microglial states — especially pathways such as TREM2 — and extend resilience rather than simply focusing on plaque removal. We are excited to continue this journey and understand the causal role of microglial transitions leading to the identification of novel therapeutic approaches to delay or prevent disease progression,” concludes Niels Plath, CSO of Muna Therapeutics
Key Questions Answered:
Q: Why do some people develop severe dementia from Alzheimer’s while others with the exact same brain plaques stay sharp?
A: It comes down to how their brain’s immune cells react to the disease. A breakthrough study in Nature Medicine shows that resilient individuals possess unique microglial cell programs that either block the transition into dangerous immune states or completely uncouple those states from destructive tau tangles.
Q: What are the two distinct biological pathways the brain uses to resist dementia as it ages?
A: Resilient octogenarians (people in their 80s) trigger an early inflammatory immune response to plaques but successfully prevent their microglia from transforming into a secondary, destructive state. Meanwhile, healthy centenarians (people over 100) actually activate that later state but completely disconnect it from harmful tau accumulation and brain tissue damage.
Q: How will this cellular discovery change how pharmaceutical companies develop future Alzheimer’s drugs?
A: It shifts the focus from simply clearing plaques to actively managing cell states. Instead of just removing protein buildup, future therapies will focus on molecules like TREM2 to keep microglia in a beneficial early-stage state and stop the immune system from crossing the critical tipping point into neurodegeneration.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- Journal paper reviewed in full.
- Additional context added by our staff.About this Alzheimer’s disease research news
Author: Gunnar De Winter
Source: VIB
Contact: Gunnar De Winter – VIB
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Human microglial transitions at the Aβ–tau inflection point associate with divergent pathways to dementia and resilience” by Ashley Lu, Wei-Ting Chen, Maria Dalby, Diego Sainz Garcia, Marisa Vanheusden, Luuk E. de Vries, Veerle van Lieshout, Araks Martirosyan, Katleen Craessaerts, Sebastiaan Moonen, Magdalena Zielonka, Iordana Chrysidou, Anke Misbaer, Leen Wolfs, Benjamin Pavie, Dick Swaab, Dietmar Rudolf Thal, Inge Huitinga, Annemieke Rozemuller, Susan Karijn Rohde, Marc Hulsman, Henne Holstege, Rita Balice-Gordon, Niels Plath, Mark Fiers & Bart De Strooper. Nature Medicine
DOI:10.1038/s41591-026-04393-8
Two different routes to resilience
Non‑O blood type is linked to higher post‑CAS stroke and TIA risk
I can't ever see doing carotid stenting or endarterectomy with all the risks of those procedures. Your doctor NEEDS TO GUARANTEE NO PROBLEMS IF DONE OR THE MEDICAL LICENSE IS LOST!
Possible problems:
Cognitive Dysfunction and Mortality After Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid Interventions for Women: The Hazards and Benefits
Female Gender Increases Risk of Stroke and Readmission after CEA(Carotid endarterectomy) and CAS(carotid artery stenting)
Ticagrelor Induced Angioedema Following Carotid Artery Stenting
Cognitive Dysfunction and Mortality After Carotid Endarterectomy
Here is why your doctor needs to GUARANTEE NO complications from stenting!
stenting (22 posts to May 2011)
carotid stenting (21 posts to May 2016)
carotid artery stenting (7 posts to November 2021)
The obvious solution is check if the Circle of Willis is complete, then close up the offending artery!
My right carotid artery was at 80% blockage at time of stroke and then thankfully fully closed up 3 years later. Remained closed for 10 years and I cognitively functioned quite well with no episodes of fainting or poor executive functioning. Eventually collaterals grew around the blockage. Since my Circle of Willis is complete, I still had 3 fully functioning arteries supplying blood to the brain, obviously enough to keep me highly functioning. I'm glad that my doctors were so incompetent they never found that 80% blockage, otherwise they probably would have insisted I undergo either stenting or endarterectomy, both of which they couldn't guarantee no problems. And I didn't find out about those problems until years later researching for this blog.
The latest here:
Non‑O blood type is linked to higher post‑CAS stroke and TIA risk
BACKGROUND
Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has increasingly been used as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the treatment of carotid artery disease. However, neurological complications following carotid angiography or CAS remain a clinical concern. This study aimed to evaluate whether naturally occurring ABO blood group antigens and hematological parameters are associated with cerebrovascular complications after diagnostic or therapeutic carotid angiography.METHODS
In this single-center retrospective study, patients were classified as blood group O or non-O (A, B, or AB). Cerebrovascular complications were defined as in-hospital amaurosis fugax, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or stroke occurring after carotid angiography or carotid artery stenting (CAS).RESULTS
A total of 316 patients who underwent carotid angiography were included; 106 (33.5%) had blood group O and 210 (66.5%) had non-O blood groups. Cerebrovascular events were significantly more frequent in patients with non-O blood groups. Stroke occurred in 13.8% of patients with non-O blood groups compared with 1.9% in those with blood group O (p < 0.001), while TIA was also more common in the non-O group (11.0% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.033). When stratified by procedure type, this association was predominantly observed in patients undergoing CAS, whereas cerebrovascular event rates were low and comparable between groups in patients undergoing diagnostic angiography alone. In univariable analysis, diabetes mellitus was associated with stroke (OR = 2.392, p = 0.024), while blood group O was associated with lower odds of stroke (OR = 0.120, p = 0.004). In multivariable analysis, blood group O (OR = 0.127, p = 0.007) and contrast volume (OR per 10 mL increase: 1.218, p < 0.001) remained independently associated with stroke, whereas diabetes mellitus was no longer statistically significant.CONCLUSION
Non-O blood groups were associated with a higher risk of stroke and TIA following carotid angiography, particularly in patients undergoing CAS, whereas blood group O was associated with a lower risk of stroke. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the observational design and potential residual confounding.REFERENCES
ABO blood group and cerebrovascular complications after carotid angiography and stenting: a natural thrombotic marker?
Evsen A, Altunova M.
J Clin Neurosci. 2026 Jun 7; 152 112128 [Epub ahead of print]
Acupuncture improves stroke recovery and reshapes brain networks
HOW?
Ask your competent? doctor to explain the mechanism of action since energy meridians have never been proven to exist.
No mechanism of action is possible except as a placebo or do you believe in hand waving.
Acupuncture improves stroke recovery and reshapes brain networks
A new study published in CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics highlights the potential benefits of acupuncture in alleviating neurological impairment and improving motor recovery in patients with stroke.
Researchers investigate acupuncture's effects on neuroplasticity
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of physical disability in adults, often resulting in unilateral motor impairment or hemiplegia, a condition of complete or severe muscle paralysis on one side of the body. Post-stroke hemiplegia significantly affects the overall quality of life of affected individuals and puts heavy economic pressure on the healthcare system and families.
Several clinical studies have revealed abnormal functional connectivity in brain regions involved in vital motor functions in stroke patients, including the sensorimotor, default mode, and cognitive control networks. Studies have also highlighted brain structural alterations in stroke patients, including cortical thinning.
The recovery of motor function in stroke patients is associated with complex structural and functional reorganization of the brain. Recent evidence highlights the potency of acupuncture in improving neurological functions. However, it remains largely unknown whether acupuncture helps restore the brain's structural and functional frameworks in stroke patients.
Given that acupuncture is considered to be a safe, effective, and low-cost complementary treatment for stroke, this randomized controlled trial aimed to explore neural mechanisms by which acupuncture adjusts motor dysfunction in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
Researchers track brain changes after treatment
A total of 56 stroke patients were enrolled in the trial. They were randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture (control group) over a period of two weeks.
After completion of the intervention period, all patients were assessed for motor impairment and recovery, neurological deficits, and limb motor control. Post-intervention structural and functional changes in the brain were also assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
After exclusions related to treatment completion and MRI data quality, 46 patients were included in the final MRI analysis.
Acupuncture improves motor recovery beyond sham
Post-treatment assessments showed that motor function improved in both groups, but patients who received real acupuncture experienced greater gains in limb motor control and overall motor recovery than those in the sham acupuncture group. These clinical improvements were accompanied by measurable changes in brain function and structure.
MRI analyses revealed reduced disjointedness and a trend toward lower flexibility within the default mode network, changes that were associated with better motor outcomes.
Acupuncture was also linked to increased gray matter volume in regions involved in sensorimotor processing and cognitive-motor integration. Importantly, participants who showed larger reductions in default mode network disruption and greater increases in gray matter volume also tended to experience greater improvements in motor impairment and recovery.
Findings support further rehabilitation research using acupuncture
The findings suggest that acupuncture may support motor recovery after stroke by promoting changes in both brain function and structure. Patients who received real acupuncture showed better motor control and recovery, accompanied by signs of a more stable and less fragmented default mode network, a brain system involved in attention, self-awareness, and other cognitive processes that help guide movement.
The treatment was also associated with increased gray matter volume in regions linked to sensorimotor processing, cognition, and coordination, suggesting broader recovery-related adaptations across the brain. Together, these functional and structural changes may help support the planning and execution of movement following stroke.
The authors caution, however, that MRI-derived changes in gray matter volume are imaging markers of structural adaptation rather than direct evidence of cellular-level neuroplasticity. They also note that some clinical improvement was observed in the sham acupuncture group, potentially reflecting placebo-related effects and the standard pharmacotherapy received by both groups.
In addition, the trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant group-by-time interaction, and the lack of long-term follow-up means it remains unclear whether the observed brain changes translate into lasting functional benefits. Larger studies with extended follow-up will therefore be needed to confirm the findings and clarify the role of acupuncture as a complementary rehabilitation strategy.
Primitive Reflexes May Predict Dementia
You want your competent? doctor to prevent dementia so if this testing shows up without EXACT PROTOCOLS TO PREVENT DEMENTIA YOUR DOCTOR IS FUCKING INCOMPETENT!
Your risk of dementia, has your doctor
told you of this? Your doctor is responsible for preventing this! Is
s/he willing to prevent this?
1. A documented 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study? May 2012.
2. Then this study came out and seems to have a range from 17-66%. December 2013.`
3. A 20% chance in this research. July 2013.
4. Dementia Risk Doubled in Patients Following Stroke September 2018
The latest here:
Primitive Reflexes May Predict Dementia
Key Takeaways
- Frontal release signs predicted higher 7-year dementia risk in cognitively normal adults.
- These signs are simple neurologic exam findings associated with brain injury or neurodegeneration.
- Frontal release signs include primitive grasp, snout, and rooting reflexes.
Primitive or regressive reflexes -- known as frontal release signs -- later in life were associated with increased dementia risk, a longitudinal study of cognitively normal older adults showed.
In adults with intact cognition, the presence of two or more frontal release signs was associated with a significantly higher risk of progressing to dementia over 7 years (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.02-3.09), reported Lauren Bojarski, DO, MS, of West Virginia University in Morgantown, and colleagues in JAMA Network Open.
Frontal release signs are present in newborn children and gradually disappear as the brain matures in early life. They include the Myerson sign (an inability to resist blinking when repeatedly tapped between the eyebrows), and grasp, snout, rooting, and palmomental reflexes. Reappearing signs are associated with brain injury or neurodegeneration and can be seen in late-life dementia.
Signs of frontal release are easy to assess and traditionally have been considered part of a standard neurologic exam. While individual signs have shown relatively low sensitivity and specificity for detecting injury or degeneration, a meta-analysis of 29 studies found that people with dementia were up to 16 times more likely to exhibit frontal release signs, with the grasp reflex showing the strongest link.
"As biomarkers become increasingly integrated into the dementia diagnostic pathway, we must remember that clinical acumen remains paramount. A meticulous neurologic examination yields invaluable diagnostic insight, yet we are seeing a concerning decline in the foundational neurology rotations essential for training the next generation of clinicians," Bojarski said.
"By demonstrating the enduring utility of the clinical exam and prioritizing these bedside skills in medical education, we can ultimately foster greater diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic confidence," she told MedPage Today.
Bojarski and co-authors followed 873 older adults from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) cohort in Lexington from 2005 to 2024. Participants were cognitively intact (672 participants) or had mild cognitive impairment (201 participants) at baseline; they had a mean age of 76.9 and an average of 16.1 years of education. Most (60.4%) were women.
Follow-up was 7.2 to 7.5 years on average in the cognitively intact group, and 4.0 to 4.4 years in the group with mild cognitive impairment.
Participants had at least two assessments that included standard protocols involving frontal release signs. Each annual evaluation included a medical history, a physical examination, and an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests of cognitive status.
At baseline, participants were classified as positive or negative for frontal release signs; those who had two or more signs were considered positive. In the intact cognition group, 8.8% were positive for frontal release signs; in the group with mild impairment, that proportion was 23.9%.
In the cognitively intact group, 25.4% of people with two or more frontal release signs progressed to dementia compared with 14.5% of people with one or no signs. Models adjusted for baseline age, sex, and education showed that mean scores in memory and executive domains worsened in this group over time.
Among participants with mild impairment at baseline, there was no difference in domains. No significant relationship between frontal release signs and dementia risk emerged.
This study was based on findings from a single ADRC, Bojarski and colleagues acknowledged. The cohort included people with relatively homogenous racial demographics and high education levels.
Frontal release signs can support tests and biomarkers to help determine who might develop dementia, the researchers pointed out. "Classic neurologic examination techniques like checking frontal release are gradually being replaced by sophisticated biomarkers and genetic testing, yet the importance of the neurologic exam for interpreting such biomarkers has never been greater," observed co-author Gregory Jicha, MD, PhD, of the University of Kentucky.
"We should not lose the art of the neurologic exam, as it adds incredibly to our diagnostic formulation," Jicha told MedPage Today. "We hope the future generations of neurologists do not simply look at a lab value to diagnose and treat, but rather that they fully examine and understand the patient and their neurologic condition in order to provide optimal care."
This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, which funds the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
Bojarski reported no conflicts of interest. Jicha disclosed relationships with Alnylam, Cognition Therapeutics, Eisai, and Novo Nordisk. Other study authors had no conflicts.
The Key to Staying Sharp After 70, According to Experts
My social connections are vast. Jazz on Sunday and Tuesday nights, Trivia on Thursday. All are at bars so alcohol is involved. Monthly wine tastings. I'm totally ignoring any condemnation about alcohol from doctors and researchers!
The Key to Staying Sharp After 70, According to Experts
Experts and research say this everyday habit can keep your brain healthy and sharp in your 70s.
Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT
Getty Images. EatingWell design.
Key Points
- Social connection helps keep your mind sharp with age.
- Being social supports brain and immune function while connecting you to your community.
- Physical activity, quality sleep and good nutrition all support brain health.
As we age, keeping our minds sharp becomes just as important as staying physically strong. After age 65, about 40% of older adults experience some form of memory loss, and among those over 70, roughly 16% face mild cognitive impairments, such as trouble remembering or finding the right words. Although genetics and preexisting medical conditions play a role in cognitive health and aging, lifestyle habits can make a big difference in keeping your mind engaged.While many lifestyle factors support cognition and brain health, recent research has found that your social life may play the biggest role. “The best habit for staying sharp after 70 is staying socially connected, through conversation, community activities or simply spending quality time with others,” says Erica Park, M.D., M.B.A., FAAPMR. Read on to learn why experts say social connection is the key to staying sharp in your later years.
Why Social Connection Is Key to Staying Sharp
Whether it’s meeting a friend for a walk, attending community events or hopping on a video call with family members, regular social interaction is crucial for mental sharpness. Here’s why.
It Supports Your Brain Structure and Function
Older adults who rarely interact with loved ones and have low participation in the community are at a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. “Regular interaction helps reduce stress, supports memory and keeps the mind engaged,” says Park.
Large long-term studies have found that people who are socially isolated have a 26% to 62% higher risk of dementia than those who stay socially connected. Brain scans reveal that these adults have less gray matter in brain regions that are responsible for memory and learning. These changes are linked to the underexpression of specific genes that protect against Alzheimer’s disease and support healthy brain function.
It Supports a Strong Immune System
Though you may think of physical health and cognitive health as two separate things, they’re closely intertwined. At the genetic level, loneliness causes an underexpression of anti-inflammatory genes and an overexpression of genes related to proinflammatory immune responses. This can decrease the body’s ability to ward off illness and disease.
A healthy immune system not only makes it easier to engage in other activities that support your brain and well-being, but it may also directly influence cognition. Recent research shows that poor immune function and heightened inflammation are associated with cognitive impairment, regardless if dementia is present.
It Keeps Your Mind Engaged
Every conversation or shared activity is like a mini workout for your brain. Whether you’re learning a new card game, discussing the latest read with your book club, picking up a new skill for a community project or having a deep, thought-provoking conversation, you’re engaging and strengthening areas of the brain that keep your mind sharp.One small study found that older adults who spent at least six weeks learning skills such as drawing, learning a new language or playing music experienced improvements in executive functions—like planning, organizing and problem solving—that lasted up to a year after the learning period.
It May Keep You Active
Regular physical activity has a strong relationship to better cognitive health. “Physical activity boosts blood flow to the brain, supports memory and mood and keeps you socially connected if you’re part of a group or team,” says Katie Schimmelpfenning, RDN. In fact, one study found active older adults had a 37% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to their inactive peers.
The benefits go both ways, according to a recent study that found higher levels of social support increase physical activity among older adults, while being physically active fosters more socialization. So whether you meet a friend for a walk, take a yoga class or play a game of pickleball, you’ll be sharpening your memory and thinking skills.
How to Incorporate Social Connection
If you’re looking to boost your mental sharpness through connection, here are some ways to become a social butterfly.
Join a Club or Class
Reflect on skills or topics you’ve always wanted to learn—or activities you once loved—and find a way to make them happen. “Join a local club or senior center, or participate in a group activity like a walking group, book club or community class,” suggests Park. These activities offer benefits beyond social connection, including physical activity, learning opportunities and a strong sense of purpose and community.
Schedule Weekly Dates
To hold yourself accountable and reduce decision fatigue about how you spend your time, schedule activities on your calendar. Whether you sign up for a weekly class, go for a morning walk with friends or plan a video chat with a loved one, you’re more likely to stick with a habit when others are counting on you.
Just be sure to start small and build at a pace that feels comfortable and manageable. “The more it becomes part of your weekly rhythm, the more natural—and beneficial—it will feel,” says Park.
Pair It with Another Habit
To get into the routine of scheduling and engaging in social activities, you may need to pair it with a daily habit you already do. “I recommend pairing new habits with things you already do daily,” says Schimmelpfenning. For example, if you sit down at your computer every morning to check your email, spend a few minutes checking your community events calendar or FaceTime with a family member or friend. Other great ideas include running errands or doing household tasks like gardening with a friend, or going for a group walk after participating in worship services or another community gathering.
Other Tips for Keeping the Mind Sharp
- Prioritize Physical Activity. Being physically active at least five times per week may provide the biggest cognitive benefits after 70. Just be sure to start small, emphasize safety and find activities you enjoy.
- Eat a Balanced, Nutrient-Dense Diet. Support your brain health by eating whole, nutrient-dense foods. “Prioritizing nourishing, balanced meals with adequate protein, fruits and vegetables can help lower inflammation and prevent chronic disease with aging,” says Hennis Tung, M.S., RD.
- Continue Learning New Skills. Regularly using your mind is essential for keeping it sharp as you age. Participating in different fitness activities and exploring new topics all support improved cognitive function.
- Get Enough Sleep. There is a strong relationship between aging, poor sleep and cognitive decline. While the relationship between the three is not exactly clear, adults who prioritize sleep and address sleep problems like sleep apnea or insomnia may have added protection against cognitive decline.
Our Expert Take
Staying socially connected does more than just boost your mood—it’s one of the most powerful ways to protect your brain as you age. Social interaction keeps your mind active, supports healthy brain structure, strengthens your immune system and often encourages other healthy habits like regular exercise. Whether it’s joining a community group, calling a friend or finding a workout buddy, prioritizing social connection can help you stay sharper, healthier and happier well into your 70s and beyond.
Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)