We talk blithely all the time about “losing our minds,” but really losing it -- as in dementia or Alzheimer’s -- is one of the most feared aspects of aging. So whenever news breaks of something that might prevent, or at least delay, the problem, people generally pay attention. And over the years, we’ve been told to eat more fish, get regular exercise, keep in touch with friends and do some crossword puzzles (still all good advice, by the way).

But now, it seems there may be something new we can add to our brain-preserving repertoire. 

 

It’s a scene that’s been played out in movies (and college dorm rooms) over and over again. You get high, get some junk food, and proceed to stuff your face till you pass out. But while stoner food fests are legendary, there’s a twist to the tale that may leave healthy eaters and frustrated dieters scratching their heads.

 

Sure, they are many, many exceptions to this rule, but according to all reputable statistics, most women are going to outlive most guys. (Don’t believe me? Check out the dining room at your local senior center — the few lucky old guys practically have a harem each of eligible, widowed ladies.)

 

Back in the '60s, one of the biggest fears among sociologists was the "population explosion," especially among developing countries. The fear was that in countries outside the U.S. and Western Europe, procreation continued unabated -- far higher than the "replacement rate" of two children per couple. And that that explosion would overpopulate the earth, bringing calamity with it.

 

Few things seem as black and white as life and death. You’re either alive or you’re dead. Right? Well, apparently not always.

A 39-year-old Australian man, who kind of did die from a heart attack last June, is making headlines by talking about his miraculous return to life, thanks to a team of several intensive-care physicians and one very high-tech machine. 

 

Angelina Jolie has made headlines for years for her choices both onscreen and off. Today, she writes her own story in a stunning New York Times op-ed titled, "My Medical Choice," revealing that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy.

 

People become vegetarians for lots of reasons, including animal welfare and having a lighter "carbon footprint" in their food choices. And it's true that the conventional cultivation of beef, pork and other meats results in huge consumption of water, land, and other limited natural resources, as well as the creation of harmful methane gas. But what if that juicy beef burger came with a much lower environmental cost and no animal cruelty?

 

There’s a habit shared by many women that I really can’t stand. It’s their tendency to “fat talk.” You know the disparaging sort of stuff I’m referring to. A group of perfectly attractive -- and otherwise smart -- women will get together and unleash a nonstop barrage of “Oh, I look so fat in these jeans,” or “If only I could lose this last five pounds” or “My stomach’s so flabby I couldn’t possibly be seen in a bathing suit.”

I know you’ve heard it a zillion times -- and I’ll admit that I’m not totally immune to this kind of fat talk myself once in a while. But I swear the next time I hear a friend say, “I’ve been so bad lately, but I promise to be good tomorrow,” when referring to her food intake, I really might scream.