Good morning. It’s December 10th, and we’re still digesting the fascinating new research suggesting the shingles vaccine can reduce dementia risk by 20%.
Turns out the secret to eternal youth might be available at CVS for a twenty-dollar copay all along.
Ok. Enough about vaccines.
We’ve all lost too many brain cells on that debate over the past few years…
The rundown for this week:
🧠How creativity boosts brain neuroplasticity
📱Sleep Cycle brings AI-coaching to the bedroom
💰 Self-help guru Tony Robbins is cashing in on the longevity-boom
🫀 Why intense excercises reign supreme for heart health
Let’s get to it. 👇
RealSimple - The 11 best power foods for women in midlife, according these dieticians. (Read more)
PsychologyToday - Creativity isn’t just entertainment; it’s neuroprotection. What it means for aging. (Read more)
Forbes - Skincare giant Oddity bets big on beauty; launches Methodiq, a fully integrated telehealth platform to transform dermatology. (Read more)
CNN - Just get up, and throw somethings around, as only 10-30 minutes of strength straining can counter age-related decline. (Read more)
USA Today - Tennis icon Serena Williams shares her regimen on longevity, and how you can implement it too. (Read more)
PR Newswire - Self-help guru Tony Robbins joins Sequel Brands in unveiling the Ultimate Longevity Center, a wellness concept with soon-to-be-announced franchises. (Read more)
FROM THE CLINIC
🧠 The Age-Defying Power of Creativity
Ever notice how time melts away when you're fully absorbed in a hobby?
Flow-state.
Lock-in.
The subtle hits of dopamine.
Turns out, that creative flow state is re-wiring your brain for the better.
Creativity forces the brain to stretch, stimulating complex networks responsible for attention, motor coordination, and problem-solving, all of which tend to weaken with age.
So you say you want to live forever? START CREATING.
Let’s get to some data.
The Creativity and Aging Study, a major randomized clinical trial conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The George Washington University, demonstrated striking differences in older adults who participated in weekly, professionally-conducted art programs versus a control group.
The intervention group reported:
Better overall health and less decline over two years.
Fewer doctor visits and less reliance on over-the-counter medications.
More positive responses on mental health measures and greater involvement in general activities.
Let’s take a look at something more recent, and this study is even more compelling.
Just published in Nature Communications, this study looked at brain data and found that people who regularly engaged in hobbies like drawing, playing music, or even complex strategy games had brains that looked biologically younger than their years.
The study analyzed brain data from over 1,400 adults across different creative domains and levels of expertise, and here’s what they found:
Tango Dancers: Showed a delay in brain aging by approximately 5.5 to 7 years.
Musicians: Showed a delay by approximately 5.4 to 6 years.
Visual Artists: Showed a delay by approximately 6.2 years.
Strategy Gamers: Showed a delay by approximately 5.4 years.
A small win for the gamers cooped up in their dark basements.
An even bigger win for Friday Night Board Game loyalists.
Creativity forces your brain to stay nimble, building strong, new pathways that prevent age-related decline.
You don’t need to be the next Picasso or Rachael Ray to stir up your neuroplasticity.
Just start creating.
IN THE NEWS
Do You Need A Sleep Coach?
Doesn’t it feel like we’re drowning in smart devices and digital gurus, all promising to fix our lives with an algorithm? Cue the next one!
The folks behind the Sleep Cycle app have just dropped their shiny new feature: Luma, an AI-powered sleep coach that promises to transform your restless nights.
Call us skeptical, but this feels less like personalized therapy and more like a gimmick. We’re deep into the AI phase of self-improvement, where we're outsourcing our self-discipline to an app.
An algorithm isn't going to fix your existential dread or that cheap mattress.
If Luma actually changes your life, we'll eat our pillows.
It can be challenging carving out an hour of moderate excercise a few times of week.
We get it.
The good thing is, the data couldn’t be more clear about needing just a handful of minutes of intense workout.
Looking to protect your heart? For cardiovascular protection, 70 minutes of light activity is the equivalent of 1 vigorous minute.
That’s right….1 minute.
Keep reading…👇🏼
