In 2014, Admiral William H. McCraven told University of Texas graduates that if they wanted to change the world, they should start by making their bed. The speech went viral and became a book, suddenly linking morning habits and personality in the public imagination. Accomplish one small task first thing in the morning, McCraven argued, and you build momentum...

Dementia is often treated as unavoidable, yet research has revealed that many cases are linked to risks that people can change. In 2024, for example, the Lancet Commission estimated that 45% of dementia cases could be “delayed or reduced” by addressing modifiable risks across life. While that percentage does not guarantee immunity, it does indicate...

When it comes to longevity and health, we often focus on our waistlines or our heart health. However, neurologists, the doctors who specialize in the intricate workings of the brain, are increasingly warning that what we eat is the primary tool for protecting our cognitive future. While the brain represents only about 2% of our...

The check arrives, and the table looks like a small disaster. Plates smeared with sauce, napkins crumpled into balls, glasses with nothing left but melting ice. Some of us stand up and leave without a second glance, but psychology researchers have spent years studying why others feel that automatic pull toward helping. Neither response is...

Some people feel genuinely happier at home than anywhere else, and psychological research now offers clear explanations for why. The preference for staying in goes beyond introversion or shyness. It involves how individual brains process social interaction, how much mental energy different environments demand, and what kinds of rest actually restore a person’s capacity to...

Dick Van Dyke turns 100 on December 13, and he still goes to the gym three times a week. The man who danced across rooftops in Mary Poppins and charmed audiences in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has outlived most of his generation, and he thinks he knows why. In recent interviews and a new book...

Waking up with a sticky, dry mouth at night can feel very uncomfortable and strangely worrying. Saliva does far more than keep your mouth comfortable. It helps protect teeth, supports taste, and even aids digestion. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that “dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is the condition of not...

On October 28, Kim Kardashian appeared on Good Morning America to promote her new show All’s Fair. Robin Roberts asked about the brain aneurysm Kim had disclosed on The Kardashians. Kim confirmed getting a Prenuvo scan followed by extensive brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She told viewers to tune in to the next episode...

Illness and disease don’t exist in silos: often, one can trigger or exacerbate another. Emerging evidence is painting a clearer, more urgent picture: the global epidemic of diabetes may be one of the strongest, yet most controllable risk factors for developing dementia. Far from being two separate conditions, researchers are increasingly recognizing them as a...

It’s Sunday night, and maybe you’re standing in front of the mirror thinking you need more than a quick rinse. You’re planning an everything shower, that long and slightly dramatic routine that TikTok made famous. It’s the kind of self-care habit that mixes beauty, hygiene, and a bit of therapy. The whole point isn’t only...

Your brain might be your most underappreciated sex organ in your body. While most conversations about self-pleasure focus on physical touch, researchers have discovered something about the connection between mind and body during arousal that changes how we understand sexual response. You can experience genuine physical pleasure without touching yourself at all, through techniques like...

People usually talk about eating right, getting exercise, and staying away from bad habits when it comes to living longer. That makes sense, but now scientists are saying there’s more to it. They believe personality traits and life expectancy are tied together in ways that might surprise you. The way someone acts or reacts to...