What type of “me-time” is more restorative to a person — hiking by yourself deep in a forest, or reading a book while sipping a latte in a coffee shop? Surprisingly, you’ll do best with a cup of joe and a good book, alone with yourself while surrounded by people, a new study published recently in the journal PLOS One found. Intense episodes of complete isolation aren’t as likely to benefit a person’s well-being as me-time that maintains some social connectedness. “We learned that less complete solitude is more likely to restore energy and maintain a feeling of connection with others,” lead researcher Morgan Quinn Ross, an assistant professor of communications with Oregon State University, said in a university news release. “In a world where social interaction is almost always just a click away, we need to understand how to balance social interaction with different types of solitude,” Ross added. For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 900 people regarding their mental health, preferred type of solitude and social interactions. The research team specifically assessed the conditions under which a person’s me-time might be intruded upon by people or technology, causing time alone to become more social in nature. Results show that less complete forms of solitude, like playing a game on your phone or going to a movie by yourself, offer some advantages over a…  read on >  read on >

Coffee provides a quick morning boost, but it might also protect the brain health of people with a common heart rhythm disorder. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows patients with atrial fibrillation who drank more than five cups of coffee a day performed better on an array of cognitive tests than those who drank little to no coffee. In fact, the brains of heavy coffee drinkers were nearly seven years younger in cognitive age compared to coffee teetotalers. “Many myths are around, but our study found no reason to discourage or forbid a patient with A-Fib from drinking coffee. Instead, say, ‘Enjoy, it may even be good for you!’” senior researcher Dr. Jürg Beer, a professor of medicine and hematology at the University of Zürich in Switzerland, said in an American Heart Association (AHA) news release. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, affecting more than 5 million people in the United States, according to the AHA. A-Fib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart — the atria — begin beating in a quivering and uncoordinated way. This allows blood to pool in the atria and potentially clot.  A-Fib increases a person’s risk of stroke fivefold, as a blood clot can travel from the atria and block blood flow to the brain, according…  read on >  read on >

Sexism is incredibly toxic to women’s lives, resulting in lower pay, fewer career opportunities, worse health care and a greater risk of violence. It also can be toxic to their brain health, a new study says. U.S. women born in the most sexist states experience a faster memory decline in later years than women born in states with more equal rights, researchers reported in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. In fact, women born in the state with the highest structural sexism — Mississippi circa 1910 — experienced memory decline similar to women 9 years older in age, researchers found. “Our findings suggest that addressing social inequities may be a powerful way to lower the burden of Alzheimer’s among women,” lead researcher Justina Avila-Rieger, an associate research scientist at Columbia University, said in a university news release.  “Alzheimer’s is a huge societal problem, particularly among women, who account for two-thirds of Americans with the disease,” Avila-Rieger continued. “It’s imperative that we gain a better understanding of what is causing this discrepancy and what can be done about it.” For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 21,000 women who took part in long-term health studies. The health studies included regular measurements of women’s brain function. The team also compiled indicators of structural racism for each state in the United States, based on male versus female labor…  read on >  read on >

Seniors with an infection can take antibiotics without fear of harming their brain health. Antibiotics don’t appear to increase the risk of cognitive decline or dementia in older adults, researchers report in the journal Neurology. “Given that older adults are more frequently prescribed antibiotics and are also at higher risk for cognitive decline, these findings offer reassurance about using these medications,” senior researcher Dr. Andrew Chan, a professor with Harvard Medical School, said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. Previous studies have linked gut health to brain health, researchers said in background notes. The human gut contains trillions of microorganisms, and some have been shown to enhance and others to drain brain power. “Antibiotics have been found in previous research to disrupt the gut microbiome, which is the community of tiny organisms that live in our intestines and support digestion,” Chan said. “Because the gut microbiome has been found to be important for maintaining overall health, and possibly cognitive function, there was concern that antibiotics may have a harmful long-term effect on the brain,” he continued. For this study, researchers tracked data on more than 13,500 healthy Australian seniors older than 70 who took part in a clinical trial testing the health benefits of daily low-dose aspirin. Participants’ use of antibiotics was determined by reviewing prescription records, researchers said. About 63%…  read on >  read on >

Millions of American adults are struggling with Long COVID, and a fifth have symptoms so debilitating they interfere with daily activities, a new report finds. “Frequently reported symptoms include fatigue that interferes with daily life, difficulty thinking or concentrating, cough and heart palpitations,” explained a team of researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, Long COVID can include “a wide range of ongoing symptoms,” such as fatigue, brain fog, feeling exhausted after exercise, coughing, shortness of breath, sleep troubles, depression/anxiety, joint pain, gastro issues and more. “Most people with Long COVID symptoms see significant improvement after 3 months, while others may see improvement up to 6 months after symptoms first appear,” the CDC noted. Just how widespread is Long COVID? In the new study, researchers led by Nicole Ford of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases looked at 2023 federal data surveying American adults. They found that about 1 in every 16 adults (6.4%) surveyed said that they were currently suffering from Long COVID, which was defined as having persistent symptoms last 3 months or more after a bout of COVID-19. Of those with Long COVID, 19.8% “reported significant activity limitations due to their symptoms,” Ford’s group reported. That meant that everyday home and work activities like walking, exercise, shopping, housework and the like were…  read on >  read on >