1 . Household chores (家务活) may contribute to healthy aging, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Open. Researchers from Singapore found that regular physical activity, including tasks like dusting, scrubbing floors, and washing windows, can improve physical and mental health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and decrease falls, immobility, dependency, and mortality among older adults.

The study involved 249 participants aged 21 to 64 and 240 participants aged 65 to 90. Participants completed cognitive (认知) function tests and physical capability assessments. They were asked about their levels of physical activity, including light housework (such as dusting) and heavy housework (such as floor-scrubbing). The researchers found that older adults who engaged in high amounts of heavy housework had higher cognitive and attention scores compared to those who did low levels or no heavy housework at all. These participants also had lower sit-to-stand times and were at a lower risk of falling. Similarly, older adults who reported high levels of light housework had higher cognitive and memory scores compared to those who did low levels of such tasks.

Dr. Shiou-Liang Wee, co-author of the research, emphasized that health messaging on staying active should not only focus on recreational physical activities. He highlighted that housework is a purposeful activity performed by many older adults and is linked to sharper memory and better fall protection.

However, experts urge caution when interpreting the study’s findings. Professor Gill Livingston from University College London noted that people who are not well may be expected to do less housework, and the study did not establish a causal relationship between housework and health outcomes. Professor Charlie Foster from the University of Bristol highlighted that the study relied on self-reported levels of household chores, which may be inaccurate, and did not fully consider other factors that could influence the results. While the study suggests that household chore may have benefits for older adults’ health, further research is needed to better understand the relationship between housework and healthy aging.

3 . While you might not realize it, the environment where you sleep can make a great difference in the actual quality (质量) of sleep that you get every night. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can create a health y sleep environment that helps improve your sleep quality.

Go to bed and get up at the regular time every day, even on weekends, holidays and days off. Studies show that people who do so are more rested than those who sleep irregularly(不规律地).

Go to sleep only when you start to feel sleepy. If you don’t fall asleep within about 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing. Go back to bed when you are tired.

Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed either hungry or stuffed. Your discomfort might keep you up. Avoid caffeine(咖啡因)6 hours before you sleep. Having a cup of coffee within a few hours of bed time can keep you awake(醒着的) for hours when you are trying to sleep. Coffee isn’t the only product containing caffeine. Avoid(避开)chocolate and tea, too. Also limit(限制) how much you drink before bed to prevent trips to the toilet at night.

Many people turn on the TV before they go to bed. TV influences your natural sleep habits by making you stay up longer than you usually would, especially if you are watching something exciting. Instead of turning on the TV, read a book. Light reading before bed can help you fall into a deep sleep quickly.

If you suffer from serious sleep problems, go to your doctor. Your doctor will help treat(治疗) the problem or may advise you to see a sleep specialist(专家).

I am sorry to hear that you’ve fallen ill because of diet to lose weight.

Looking forward to your good news!

Yours,

Li Hua

5 . The last time my husband and I went out for a dinner in a restaurant, the server came and recited (背诵) a long list of specials and detailed descriptions of how the food was made. As she spoke. I became almost more interested in how she could remember all those descriptions than thinking about the food, Meanwhile. I couldn’t remember where I’d put my keys before we left for the restaurant.

Objectively (客观地) speaking, not remembering where you put your keys is generally not a sign of dementia (痴呆). And on the other side, being able to remember a long list of restaurant specials isn’t necessarily a sign of surprising mental ability, either.

While most of us are afraid about developing dementia. fewer than 10% of adults age 65and older will end up with dementia such as Alzheimer’s. “For them, developing a condition like Alzheimer’s is a part of normal aging,” says Joel Salinas MD, an expert at NYU Langone Health. And, he adds. “There are areas that actually improve with age, like vocabulary and wisdom.”

“Memory is all these different brain networks working in concert with each other,” says Dr. Salinas. While genetics and family history play some role in the risk of memory problems. so do plenty of other reasons, For example, some medicine and alcohol can cause memory problems, especially for older people.

The brain might be the place that memory is stored, but it doesn’t exist in the air. The health and efficiency of the brain depend a lot on the general health of the body. In short, what’s good for the body is good for the brain. Many of the lifestyle factors that can improve memory are the same that have a positive effect on general health, such as, exercising properly. having a balanced diet, and sleeping well.

6 . How to Boost Your Memory

The brain might be the place where memories are stored, and its memory capacity can be enlarged.     1    Taking steps to improve your lifestyle in the following four areas will help keep your mind sharp.

●    2     Exercise helps with the activity of brain cells and also helps reduce the risk of brain diseases. It also helps brain cells repair themselves and their connections to other brain cells. Memory can improve in both brain-healthy older adults and with mild brain disorder after a 12-week exercise program.

●Getting sugar from fruits and vegetables instead of products with added sugars is healthier for body and brain. Too much sugar restricts blood flow to the brain and can even cause brain illness. The real brain foods are those called the mind diet.     3    

●Sleep is critical for memory formation, especially long-term memory formation. That’s because when you’re asleep, the brain, runs the tape of what it recorded during the day, gets rid of information that isn’t relevant and then stores other information for the long term.     4     The more you can keep a regular sleep schedule, the better off your brain and the rest of you will be.

●Challenging your brain is of great benefit, too. Maybe you’re a crazy bridge player, a crossword puzzle lover or a regular lecturer.     5     To get the most memory boost out of puzzles or intellectual activities, the key is to keep things fresh and challenging. New and challenging activities help form new pathways in the brain.

8 . According to a study published this week, habitual napping (打盹) appears to be associated with a large brain volume in adults although experts stressed that further research was needed. It reduces the cost caused from the lost time and the fatigue-related errors. The work followed previous studies that suggested a brief doze could improve people’s ability to learn.

Arianna Huffington, a co-founder of Huff Post and the founder and chief executive of Thrive Global, said, “Given the latest science on the effectiveness of napping and the clear link between employees feeling well rested and their productivity, it’s long past time that businesses embrace short naps at work.”

Some businesses, including Thrive Global, have already introduced facilities for employees to take naps. Google introduced sleep pods as far back as 2014 and companies like Nike and Ben & Jerry’s introduced nap rooms. The practice has even been adopted by the NHS, with a growing number of hospitals introducing sleep pods for staff in an effort to help them get more rest. Employees, it seems, are enthusiastic. Sean Greenwood, of Ben & Jerry’s, said, “If a quick nap gets employees more involved and creative, we’re happy to provide that for our team members.”

Unfortunately, the practice of napping still suffers from our collective concept that sleep equals weakness and laziness. However, the performance-enhancing benefits of naps have been no secret to many leaders throughout history. It also gives the higher-ups the chance to acknowledge the 24/7 culture and come up with top-down   solutions that encourage workers to take care of themselves in and out of work.

While sleep experts stressed that a daytime doze could be beneficial, they said it was crucial to get enough shut-eye at the end of a day. It is the late stage of sleep, sometimes missed by early risers, that strengthens the nerve circuits that make for learning and memory, allowing the brain to make and consolidate new neutral connections. Additionally, prioritizing sufficient sleep during the regular nightly sleep period is essential for overall well-being.