Annabel and I have always been a little wary of brain training exercises. There’s certainly plenty of them out there. They’re well researched, but the ultimate conclusion is often that they make you really good at playing that particular game with no substantial real-world benefits. We’d usually rather read a book, play a board game…
Light and longevity
If you’re in the northern hemisphere you have probably commented – more than once –on how dark it is at the moment (if you’re anything like me, anyway). We’re used to the idea of ‘wintering’ now (and if you’re not, read Katherine May’s wonderful book of the same title) – hunkering down in the darkness,…
HOW TO IMPROVE MEMORY, REDUCE INFLAMMATION, CUT CANCER RISK, AND WHY TRACKING COULD HARM YOUR HEALTH
Come Walk With Me First things first, the 2025 London Festival of Walking is hosting a free conference (2 May) on strolling, featuring the neuroscientist, Professor Shane O’Mara, and yours truly (that’s me, Annabel). If you’re interested in the biology, neuroscience, politics or simply the joys, of walking, you can claim a place by registering…
MOVE LIKE A MIDDLE-AGER, EAT CHOCOLATE, DRINK COFFEE
I was recently in Brussels and took the opportunity to visit the city’s fabulous collection of Old Masters. The Brueghels (or Bruegels, as you prefer) caught my eye – not only for their colour and verve but for their insight into how our ancestors lived. Look closely at these paintings of sixteenth century village life…
LANDSCAPES, PAIN, ROSEMARY, SLEEP AND MORE
Thank you so much to everyone (hundreds of you!) who entered the give-away for copies of 52 Ways to Walk and The Age-Well Project. Thank you to those who sent photographs and memories – and so much beautiful descriptive writing. It was an absolute joy to read them – although my feet were itching the…
What we learnt about reducing dementia risk this summer, and smoked quinoa salad
Hello, from me. I’m back from an extended summer break and embracing, as always, la rentrée and the invigoration it brings. There’s lots to catch you up on in the world of Alzheimer’s research and dementia risk reduction. This is always my particular field of interest – so without further ado…… Many people have asked…
THE ART OF SAUNA – AND MORE
This summer I spent an unforgettable fortnight in Finland, land of lakes and forests and some of the cleanest air in the world. And land of the sauna! Saunas have become big in the American world of longevity, with many longevity gurus now regularly taking saunas. Why? Because a growing number of studies attest to…
SMELL, STRESS, POETRY AND THE BRAIN
It’s national walking month, apparently. For me, every month is a walking month but I’ll admit that May is a particularly enchanting time to walk in Britain – hawthorn blossom, bluebells, birdsong in abundance. And air drenched in perfume. Making May the ideal month in which to walk more. And to walk differently. We know…
KEEP COOL AND EAT FAVA BEANS
I’m just back from Jordan where we celebrated The Husband’s Big Birthday – rather belatedly, thanks to Covid-19. I always take great interest in how other cultures eat and live, and what they can teach us. The Jordanians (who have much lower rates of dementia and cancer than we do) eat beans for breakfast. Not…
Caring for elderly relatives and ageing well
In recent years both Annabel and I, like so many of our generation, have faced the consequences of caring for elderly relatives. In my coaching practice, I talk to women almost every day who are trying to navigate the complexities of this experience. Many of them – like me – have cared for, or are…
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