As the world’s top authority on sports medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) sets the global standard for fitness and clinical exercise advice. They have recently published new strength training guidelines that offer clear, proven advice for healthy adults. Updated after 17 years, these guidelines simplify workouts to build muscle and mobility for better brain and body health.

In this episode of the Wellness Growth Code, host Justine McKell welcomes neurologist Dr. Paul Bendheim and BrainSavers’ Craig Ullman to discuss the essentials of safeguarding your brain as you grow older.

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.

I have long advocated that exercise can help reduce symptoms of depression in many adults, especially when done regularly at light to moderate intensity. An updated Cochrane review, just published, further supports my position. It suggests that exercise is generally safe and accessible and can be part of a broader plan to support mood, brain health, and overall well‑being.