If you’re over 50 and finding that sleep isn’t quite as easy as it used to be, your bedroom temperature may deserve a closer look. A recent study suggests that sleeping in a room that’s too warm may put extra stress on the body—particularly as we get older. Researchers studied 47 adults age 65 and older and monitored their heart activity while they slept. They also tracked the temperature in each person’s bedroom. The finding was interesting: when bedroom temperatures rose ab

A restless night is easy to dismiss. Maybe you woke up several times, got up earlier than usual, or simply couldn’t fall asleep. Every once in a while, that’s normal. But when poor sleep becomes a regular pattern, the consequences can go far beyond feeling tired the next morning. Sleep plays an important role in the brain, immune system, metabolism, heart, and hormones. For adults, experts generally recommend about 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. And after 50, getting enough q

If you enjoy eggs for breakfast, there may be another reason to keep them on the menu. A new study of nearly 40,000 adults age 65 and older found that people who ate eggs regularly were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease during the study period. Those who ate five or more eggs a week had a 27% lower risk compared with people who reported never eating eggs. But there’s an important catch: the study does not prove that eating eggs prevents Alzheimer’s. It found an assoc

Forget the myth that memory loss and mental decline are simply unavoidable parts of getting older. While your brain naturally changes with age, research shows that many daily habits can help you stay mentally sharp well into your 60s, 70s, and beyond. The key isn't finding one magic "brain game." Instead, experts say a combination of physical activity, lifelong learning, quality sleep, social connections, and healthy lifestyle choices gives your brain the best chance to stay

For years we've been told that every new health breakthrough would come from an expensive prescription or the latest miracle supplement. Sometimes, though, science ends up confirming what previous generations practiced without thinking twice: eat real food, stay active, and take care of yourself before problems begin. A new study examining more than 2,000 older adults suggests that people with higher levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have healthier brain structures

When you've been around for a few decades, you learn something simple: life runs better when you have a routine. Our grandparents didn't need life coaches or productivity apps to tell them when to work, rest, or take care of themselves. They paid attention to what worked. Modern research has caught up with a lot of that old-fashioned wisdom. Here are a few practical ways to make better use of your day without turning your life into a science experiment. Step on the Scale Midw

As we get older, we tend to pay more attention to the habits that support healthy aging—eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, and keeping up with regular medical care. But growing evidence suggests there's another factor that deserves attention: the people we spend time with. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who regularly deal with individuals who create conflict, add stress, or make everyday life more

When I was growing up in the 1980s, nobody needed a social media influencer to explain what healthy living looked like. We ate dinner around the kitchen table, spent our evenings outside instead of staring at screens, and our grandparents passed down practical wisdom that had worked for generations. Somewhere along the way, we convinced ourselves that every problem required a new pill, a complicated diet, or a government-approved program. Meanwhile, chronic illness has become

Many of us start paying closer attention to our health after 50, especially when it comes to keeping our minds sharp. The good news is that healthier eating habits can improve brain function. The less encouraging news? New research suggests that years of eating a diet high in sugar may leave behind changes that aren't completely reversible. Researchers reviewed 27 animal studies to see what happened when rodents switched from unhealthy diets to healthier ones. While memory im

Most of us think of brushing and flossing as ways to keep our teeth healthy and our smiles bright. But growing research suggests that good oral health may also play an important role in protecting brain health as we age. Scientists are increasingly studying the connection between gum disease and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. While researchers have not proven that gum disease causes Alzheimer's, evidence suggests that chronic inflammation and harmful bacteria in the

In a culture that rewards productivity and efficiency, play can start to feel indulgent. But experts suggest the opposite is true: Play is a key part of how we regulate stress, build relationships, and stay mentally flexible over time—and it’s something adults never really outgrow. Here’s what play looks like in adulthood, and how to bring more of it into your everyday life in ways that support your mental health. What Counts as Play in Adulthood? One of the biggest misconce

When it comes to health benefits, eggs have had a fluctuating reputation over time. For years, a belief persisted that their high content of dietary cholesterol might negatively affect cholesterol levels in the human body. More recent studies, however, argue that dietary cholesterol from moderate egg consumption does not contribute to higher levels of “bad” cholesterol in the human body and thus does not heighten heart disease risk. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that

The sudden, urgent need to pee the moment you arrive home is a common phenomenon known as "latchkey incontinence." It is not a medical condition, but rather the combination of neurological (brain-related) and behavioral (conditioned) responses that allow you to hold it in until you are within reach of a toilet. How the Brain Controls Urination Urination is not a reflex—it's a carefully regulated process in which the brain constantly monitors how full your bladder is and decid

It’s not often that something simple, cheap, science-backed and easily accessible trends on social media. Against the odds, #WaterTok is all the rage right now, and as a registered dietitian, I’m not mad about it. Yes, it annoys me that there are influencers trying to sell you expensive electrolyte powders that you don’t need. (Don’t even get me started on the fact that one of the most popular powders contains 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which is almost half the recommended d

Stress Long-term stress floods your body with cortisol, a hormone that plays a part in your fight or flight system. In order to refuel your body after a stressful encounter, cortisol makes you want to eat more. If stress is a near-constant state for you, those cortisol levels stay up and keep you reaching for the snacks. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Binge eating disorder (BED) is a category used in diagnosing eating disorders. It describes ongoing sessions of eating more food

You may fall asleep occasionally when you sit down if you don’t get enough high quality sleep. Falling asleep regularly when you sit down, however, may be a symptom of a sleeping condition that could require medical attention. Is falling asleep when sitting down a sign of a sleep disorder? Falling asleep regularly when you sit down may be a symptom of hypersomnia, a sleeping condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. According to the United Kingdom’s National He

Think about the last time you felt embarrassed over a simple mistake—maybe you tripped over a crack in the sidewalk or forgot the name of somebody you’d met before. Did you skulk off in humiliation, kicking yourself over the faux pas? According to a recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , you’re better off shirking that sense of shame. What the Study Found Over the course of six online experiments, a total of 3,000 participants were asked

About Personality It's all the ways you think, feel, and act -- it's what makes you, well, you. It's your habits, quirks, and how you react to the world around you. Even though your moods change and you learn and grow over the years, there's still a certain you-ness to it all. But some health conditions can affect your personality and make you act in ways that are out of character for you. Alzheimer's Disease This illness affects your thinking, judgment, memory, and decision-

Fridge Smarts The fridge is the true workhorse of the kitchen — and many of us neglect it. Improper use and lack of care can lead to messes, wasted energy and even foodborne illnesses. While each fridge is a little different, here are some universal do's and don'ts to keep your fridge (and the food inside it!) in tip-top shape. Do Take Your Fridge's Temperature Keep the fridge set at a chilly 40 degrees F or below to slow harmful bacteria growth and keep your dinner leftovers

Also known as emotional eating, stress-eating involves using food as a coping mechanism to help you feel better. Typically, it has nothing to do with physical hunger and everything to do with soothing or suppressing uncomfortable feelings and situations. If you’re using food as a way to manage stress, you might be wondering why you want to eat when you’re stressed, how you can stop stress eating, and what you can do to reduce stress instead. Read on to learn why you eat when