Don’t buy into brain health supplements

This Week’s Top Stories from Harvard Health Don’t buy into brain health supplements A recent survey found that about 25% of adults over age 50 take a supplement to improve their brain health with the promise of enhanced memory and sharper attention and focus. The problem? There's no solid proof any of them work. The main issue with all over-the-counter supplements is lack of federal regulation. Get your copy of A Guide to Cognitive Fitness In this Special Health Report, Harvard Medical School doctors share a six-step program that can yield important and lasting results. Together these “super 6” can strengthen your intellectual prowess, promote your powers of recall, and protect the brain-based skills that are essential for full, rewarding, and independent living. From simple and specific changes in eating to ways to challenge your brain, this is guidance that will pay dividends for you and your future. Additional News from Harvard Health Publishing Heart disease may accelerate cognitive decline Why are diabetes-related complications on the rise? Good oral health may help protect against Alzheimer’s Featured Course Cognitive Fitness Self-Paced Course from Harvard Health Online Learning We are living longer than ever before. Brain problems are a particular concern as we grow older. According to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases will affect one out of every five people at some point in life, and these conditions are the main cause of lifelong disability worldwide. The good news is that declining brain health and cognitive loss are not inevitable. In this course, we explore decades of research on cognitive health and discover the six pillars of brain health that can help you sustain good brain function and cognitive fitness (the ability to learn, reason, remember, and adapt your thinking processes) into old age. Enroll now A Guide to Cognitive Fitness Featured content: • Cognitive fitness: Your No. 1 health goal • How cognitive function is shaped over a lifetime • STEP 1: Eat a plant-based diet • STEP 2: Exercise regularly • STEP 3: Get enough sleep •  ... and more! Click here to read more »