Recent Blog Articles

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do

Harvard Health Ad Watch: New drug, old song, clever tagline

Concussion in children: What to know and do

What color is your tongue? What's healthy, what's not?

Your amazing parathyroid glands

When — and how — should you be screened for colon cancer?

Co-regulation: Helping children and teens navigate big emotions

Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them

Will miscarriage care remain available?

Can AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?

Memory Archive

Mind & Mood

Embrace healthy habits for a robust memory

Published October 1, 2021

Healthy lifestyle habits may contribute to better brain health and sharper thinking skills. For example, getting at least seven hours of sleep each night gives the brain time to consolidate and store information and also flush out waste—including Alzheimer’s disease–related toxins. Eating a healthy diet helps ward off "mini" strokes that kill brain cells and lead to cognitive decline. Other healthy lifestyle habits that may help cognition include exercising, managing stress, and practicing mindfulness.

Mind & Mood

Can flavonoids help fend off forgetfulness?

Published September 17, 2021

Eating a broad variety of fruits and vegetables is a good way to get a sufficient intake of flavonoids, chemicals that contribute to many aspects of health. Now, a study suggests that flavonoid-rich foods may also play a role in protecting memory and thinking as people get older.

Mind & Mood

Statins have no apparent link to cognitive problems or dementia

Published September 1, 2021

For older people, taking cholesterol-lower statins does not appear to affect their risk of developing cognitive problems or dementia.

Mind & Mood

Take short breaks to maximize memory and learning

Published September 1, 2021

Taking short breaks between practice sessions may help someone master a new skill, according to a study published June 8, 2021, in Cell Reports.

Staying Healthy

The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious

Published August 11, 2021

Though recently discovered, the endocannabinoid system regulates and controls many of our critical bodily functions. Researchers are investigating the ECS's role in learning and memory and in hunger, hoping that these avenues of research may lead to new drug discoveries.

Mind & Mood

The book of neurogenesis

Published August 1, 2021

The brain can continue to produce new neurons as people age, even late into life, through a process called neurogenesis. Right now, scientists are looking at why neurogenesis especially happens in the hippocampus, the region responsible for learning information and storing memories. Animal studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise is associated with an increased production of neurons in the hippocampus. If the same is true in humans, it may be the reason for the observed link between physical activity and maintaining cognitive fitness, and perhaps a lower risk of dementia.

Mind & Mood

A new Alzheimer's drug has been approved. But should you take it?

Updated July 15, 2021

The FDA has granted accelerated approval to the first new drug in nearly two decades for Alzheimer's disease. But there are potential side effects, and results of studies of this drug have been mixed. It is not yet known whether the drug truly works, or how effective it will be, so the approval is contingent on the drug's maker conducting further studies over the next several years.

Staying Healthy

Is your daily nap doing more harm than good?

Updated September 22, 2023

Naps can be healthy for adults who need to catch up on sleep or work odd hours, but they can also make it more difficult to sleep at night and be a sign of a sleep disorder. Naps should be short and limited to the early afternoon to prevent them from interfering with nighttime sleep. People who have the urge to nap daily should consider whether they need to improve their nighttime sleep habits.

Staying Healthy

Common questions about medical cannabis

Published May 28, 2021

While cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, more than two-thirds of US states have made it partly or fully legal for medical purposes. People who decide to use marijuana for a medical condition often have questions about its safety and proper use — the same considerations doctors weigh when determining whether it should be prescribed for a particular patient.

Mind & Mood

Can mindfulness change your brain?

Updated May 13, 2021

A lot has been written about the benefits of mindfulness, but does it actually work? Can it produce detectable changes in the brain? Researchers in Australia investigated whether mindfulness training improved a person's ability to pay attention

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