Mind & Mood Archive

Trauma can register within our bodies on a cellular level. What that means — and how best to heal from serious traumas — is the focus of somatic therapy, a newer form of mental health counseling that highlights how deeply painful experiences affect us and can be addressed through mind-body approaches.

In a 2023 study of more than 28,000 older adults, those who reported socializing the most frequently lived the longest, compared with people who said they didn't socialize.

Scientists don't fully understand what causes some people to get Alzheimer's and others not. Age is the most significant risk factor, but genetics also plays a role. Alzheimer's has no cure, so the focus is on prevention and slowing the disease's progress once the biological changes are detected or when someone has early symptoms. Research has found that paying attention to certain factors may help, no matter a person's age or family history. These include exercise, diet, hearing and vision, blood pressure, and mind-stimulating activities.

A 2023 study suggests regular exercise improves symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress more effectively than sedentary behavior.

A 2023 study suggests that some brain changes in people with obesity appear similar to those that occur in people with Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia.

Two studies found that managing stress and eating a plant-based diet with at least seven servings of leafy green vegetables per week can help improve cognitive function and protect against Alzheimer's disease, respectively.

A 2023 study suggests that certain social challenges, such as isolation, may be useful to help predict older adults' risk of earlier death.

Grief can occur from the death of a family member or a friend, from a sudden change in health or lifestyle, or even after a traumatic event like a natural disaster or a mass shooting. No matter the source, grief can cause deep emotional and physical pain. Going through the grieving process is essential for healing. Certain strategies can support people along the way, such as reaching out to the deceased person's social circle, trying talk therapy, and exploring spirituality.

A 2023 study involving more than 29,000 older adults without dementia, followed for 10 years, suggested that people who stuck to at least four healthy lifestyle habits had significantly slower memory decline than people who didn't practice any healthy habits.