Brain health can improve with age, new study finds
A new study has found that brain health can improve well into your 90s if you actively engage in brain-supporting activities. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas tracked nearly 4,000 adults aged 19 to 94 as they took part in a three-year-long BrainHealth project. Participants were assessed every six months using a scoring tool called the BrainHealth Index, which measured memory, thinking ability, emotional wellbeing, social connection, and sense of purpose. Between assessments, participants completed short daily training sessions, lifestyle habit tracking, and one-to-one or group online coaching sessions. The training centred on strengthening big-picture thinking, filtering out distractions, and improving problem-solving skills. The project also focused on stress management, emotional balance, and maintaining social connection. The findings showed that brain health improved steadily across the full three-year period, and that people who engaged more with the training saw greater improvements. Overall, the study found that improvements in brain function were linked more strongly to the effort participants put in than to age, gender, or education level. The study notes that brain decline can begin as early as a person’s late twenties, but also highlights the brain’s ability to adapt and change throughout life. Researchers drew parallels between brain health and physical fitness, arguing that the brain should receive the same kind of proactive care and attention.
2026-05-13T16:51:33Z
The countries with the best healthcare in the world
How is healthcare defined? Generally, we understand it as a set of systems we depend on, that help us maintain our personal health through prevention or treatment of illness, disease, injury, or another kind of mental or physical impairment. Many governments provide nationwide healthcare to their citizens; however, the standard and quality of care ultimately received by the patient differs from country to country, and there are several reasons for this. Ranking the world's countries in order of the best healthcare services is no small task, and to do so several factors were taken into consideration. 1. The Legatum Prosperity Index measures the extent to which people are healthy and have access to the necessary services to maintain good health, including health outcomes, health systems, illness and risk factors, and mortality rates. 2. CEOWORLD Magazine's Health Care Index "is a statistical analysis of the overall quality of the health care system, including health care infrastructure; health care professionals (doctors, nursing staff, and other health workers) competencies; cost (USD p.a.per capita); quality medicine availability, and government readiness." Under this index, each country is scored out of a total of 100. 3. U.S. News & World Report is a valuable resource with a suite of health-focused rankings. Since 1990, the publication has compiled Best Hospital rankings. Taking these three metrics into account, countries were ranked for their healthcare system's performance. Intrigued? Click on to learn where in the world you'll receive the best healthcare.
2024-04-17T08:13:11Z