Live Well
End-of-Life Doulas: Thinking Ahead
Many people are familiar with the concept of doulas, with the term introduced in the 1970s to refer to women who help out during and after childbirth. (Doula comes...
When Sound Becomes Noise
According to recent data from the University of Michigan, about one-third of Americans are exposed to sound above the average levels considered safe. But standard metrics of loudness do...
Secrets of the Super-Agers
It’s not uncommon to lose a bit of our mental edge as we age, or even to develop some degree of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment affects more than one...
Breaking Down a ‘Brain Booster’
We all—at least those of us of a certain age—forget a word from time to time, misplace our keys, or walk into a room and can’t remember why. When...
Sleep and Dementia: A Possible Connection
In May 2023, the journal BMC Medicine published a study from a UC Berkeley team on the relationship between deep sleep—also known as slow-wave sleep—and Alzheimer’s disease. The paper,...
Expanding on Vaginal Dilators
Menopause can complicate your sex life in so many ways. One very important reason is the loss of estrogen, which leaves your vagina drier and less elastic. Your vagina...
Sex, Seniors, and STIs
Blame Viagra, or just the fact that Americans are living longer, healthier lives. For several reasons, sexually transmitted diseases (more accurately called sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, because it’s...
The Power of Awe
Experiencing more moments of awe can lead to improvements in quality of life, according to a study published earlier this year that focused on this ephemeral human phenomenon. The...
Timeless Advice: Simple Diets, Endless Options
Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H., is an author, academic, and champion of the slow food movement. For nearly five decades, she has been advocating for healthier food policies and greater...
When Noise Is Good for Your Health
You might think of noise as a bad thing: your neighbor’s yappy dog that wakes you up at 2 a.m. or a coworker’s radio that distracts you from your...
