Staying sharp, healthy hearts and beach-day calm: The week in Well+Being
This week we're thinking about healthy brains and hearts. The two are so closely linked, and we know what's good for one is often good for the other. We were excited to see some of the strongest evidence to date that you can protect your brain health with exercise, healthy eating, social interaction and brain games. A new study looked at people at risk of developing dementia because of a family history or other factors, and found a 'recipe' of lifestyle changes helped improve their cognitive function. About 45 percent of all dementia cases might be preventable, according to other research, so this is incredible news for anyone (everyone?) who's worried about their memory or brain health as they age. And back to that heart-mind connection. Those very same lifestyle changes that are so good for your brain often help your heart. Cardiologist Eric Topol shared 10 science-based ways to protect your ticker — plus there's an online tool you can use to find out how 'old' your heart is! — and I'm sure our minds would benefit, too. But before that …
A mix of exercise, a healthy diet, social engagement and brain games could improve cognitive capabilities in older adults at risk of cognitive decline or dementia, a clinical trial has found.
The study, known as U.S. POINTER, is the largest trial to examine how healthy lifestyle behaviors can improve brain health. Its results were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Monday in Toronto.
'If you can modify these and improve them, then it makes sense that you will improve your brain health and you might prevent dementia,' Kristine Yaffe, a professor and the vice chair of the department of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, told our brain health writer, Richard Sima.
Learn more about the study and how you can reduce your risk of dementia here.
A free, newly developed online calculator reveals your heart's age and your risk of heart disease, according to a large-scale study of heart health published in JAMA Cardiology.
Based on the most current equations about risks for cardiovascular disease, the calculator uses answers to a few simple questions about blood pressure, cholesterol status and other common measures of health, to determine your heart's biological age, which can be different from your body's chronological or calendar age.
Fitness columnist Gretchen Reynolds writes that the calculator is at the vanguard of 'organ aging' tests, which use a variety of advanced techniques and algorithms to determine whether certain parts of our bodies are aging faster or slower than others.
To find out more about organ aging and how to tell if your heart is as young as you are, read our story here.
Our guest columnist is Eric Topol, MD, a cardiologist, professor and the executive vice president of Scripps Research in San Diego. He is the author of 'Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity' and Ground Truths on Substack.
While we've seen some major advances in treating heart disease, it remains the leading killer in the United States, even though about 80 percent of cases are considered preventable.
Exercise is considered the single most effective medical intervention to protect against atherosclerosis and promote healthy aging. Physical activity lowers inflammation in the body. Evidence has shown that both aerobic and strength training forms of exercise are important.
But only 1 in 4 Americans meet the two activity guidelines from the American Heart Association: aerobic exercise of 150 minutes per week of at least moderate physical activity, such as walking, bicycling on level ground, dancing or gardening, and strength training for at least two sessions per week, which typically translates to 60 minutes weekly.
For more evidence-based steps Topol recommends you do to stave off heart disease, read the story here. And use our Ask a Doctor form to submit a question, and we may answer it in a future column.
Here are a few things that brought us joy this week.
Let's keep the conversation going. We want to hear from you! Email us at wellbeing@washpost.com.
Want to know more about 'joy' snacks? Reporter and former neuroscientist Richard Sima explains what they are and how they can make you feel happier. You can also read his advice as a comic.
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