New guidelines link heart and brain health for the first time
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For years, cardiologists and neurologists have largely worked in parallel, treating cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline as separate concerns. A new set of guidelines released in 2026 is changing that, and the shift is more practical than it might Read More...
New dementia research highlights two surprising risk factors you can address today
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Dementia research is evolving quickly, and the latest findings offer more actionable steps for prevention. A 2024 report in The Lancet has added two more items to the list of modifiable risk factors for dementia: untreated vision loss and high cholesterol Read More...
A new study could change Alzheimer’s treatment by unlocking the brain's sugar code
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A quiet but powerful ally in the brain may be reshaping how we understand and treat neurodegenerative disease. New research from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging uncovered the overlooked role of glycogen, a stored form of sugar, in brain cells. The Read More...
In your 50s and worried about dementia? Here are 14 ways to lower your risk
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you have ever worried about your brain health as you age, you are not alone. While Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can be influenced by genetics, research shows that lifestyle plays a major role in brain resilience. In fact, experts Read More...
New research shows the neurological importance of living near green spaces
As the Optimist Daily has often reported, natural spaces improve air quality, mental health, and boost community building. Adding to their list of superpowers, a new study from the University of British Columbia has found that living near green spaces can reduce your risk of developing neurological Read More...
Want to prevent dementia? Get outside and move your body
We all know that moving our bodies is critical for physical health, but it may also be critical for cognitive health, or more specifically, for preventing dementia. A systematic review of 36 studies found that regular exercise, including bicycling, jogging, walking, and swimming, is beneficial for Read More...