If you aren’t already convinced that exercise is the best way to improve health outcomes as you age, there is now even more evidence to bolster that case. [Read more…]
As You Age, Exercise Prevents Cognitive Decline
October 10, 2023 By
When Knowledge Leads to Overconfidence
September 30, 2023 By
Misinformation is ubiquitous in our society. We find it in news outlets, on social media, and — for many people — in daily conversations. At the root of misinformation is someone who strongly believes in an inaccurate or flawed assessment of the evidence. Put simply, the person has confidence in their knowledge, even if it is not based on solid facts. [Read more…]
The Problem With How-to-Be-Happy Strategies
September 27, 2023 By
Advice on how to cultivate happiness is hard to avoid. Magazines, online news outlets, and television news tout the best ways to improve your mood and boost contentment. Often making the list: exercise, smiling (even when you don’t feel happy), and meditation. [Read more…]
How Heat Waves Affect Your Ability to Think and Reason
August 30, 2023 By
Heat waves have rippled across North America this summer, leading to an increase in heat-related illness and deaths.
Unfortunately, the data gathered on heat illnesses and deaths in the U.S. are incomplete. But we know that last year, extreme heat killed more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, lightning, or tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. This year, we’re on track to exceed the number of deaths due to heat. [Read more…]
Spirituality Can Help Protect Mental Health
August 28, 2023 By
Nearly 70% of Americans identify with a specific religion, and another 25-to-30% consider themselves spiritual.
It turns out, that’s a good thing. A large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that spirituality is good for our mental health. [Read more…]
What We Know About Youth Mental Health Visits to the ER
August 7, 2023 By
It’s well-established that youth mental health has suffered in recent years—with wide-ranging factors contributing to the problem including the proliferation of social media among young people and the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
Your Heartbeat May Influence How You Perceive Time
August 1, 2023 By
You likely know from experience that human perceptions of time are not accurate. During a long, boring task, time feels like it plods along slowly; when we are experiencing excitement or joy, time flies by. [Read more…]
Loneliness Harms Your Health
July 28, 2023 By
A broad new analysis published in the journal Nature Human Behavior demonstrates that social isolation and loneliness can lead to premature death. [Read more…]
The Mental-Health Benefits of Singing in a Choir
July 27, 2023 By
Singing is nearly ubiquitous in American society. From church choirs to America’s Got Talent, people love hearing voices singing in unison. Nearly 54 million Americans – including one in six adults – participate in choral groups, according to research funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. [Read more…]
Why Doctors Are Moving Away from BMI
July 6, 2023 By
If you’ve been to a doctor’s office or fitness center in recent years, you’ve likely had your Body Mass Index calculated. The BMI formula uses a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. The resulting number is classified into one of four categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. These labels are prolific in the U.S. medical system. At one point, BMI classification was even used to establish eligibility for COVID vaccines. [Read more…]
The Link Between Food Insecurity and Binge Eating
June 28, 2023 By
Food insecurity—or not having access to enough quality food—is a significant risk factor for binge eating disorder, according to a new systematic review published earlier this year. [Read more…]
New Evidence on Adolescent Mental Health and Social Media
June 27, 2023 By
A sweeping new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General outlines the best available evidence on how social media is affecting the mental health of youth in the United States. [Read more…]
