A new study in the American Journal of Public Health followed more than 5,000 older adults across the United States from 2013 to 2020 and asked a simple, powerful question: does eating more ultra‑processed foods change the risk of later cognitive problems or dementia? Ultra‑processed foods are the highly industrial products that dominate modern grocery aisles—think sugary drinks, packaged snacks and sweets, frozen pizzas, and many ready‑to‑eat items that rely on additives to

Extensive research demonstrates that quitting smoking provides significant health benefits for older adults, even for those who have smoked for decades. These benefits span mortality reduction, cognitive preservation, cardiovascular health, and quality of life.

Most of us think of Alzheimer’s as something that “just happens” in our 70s or 80s. In reality, the changes that lead to Alzheimer’s usually begin quietly in midlife—often 20 to 30 years before the first noticeable memory problems. Understanding this earlier timeline is empowering because it means the choices you make in your 40s, 50s, and 60s can meaningfully influence your brain health later on.

According to an exciting recent study, most older adults can meaningfully extend their healthspan—the years lived free of major chronic disease—by making very small, combined improvements in sleep, movement, and nutrition, rather than dramatic changes in any one area.