dementia

I spent the last month in Israel, where I was on a steady diet of beige foods: hummus, pita, tahini, falafel, and shawarma. It was delicious - and very filling - but I am happy to be back in Toronto for local fruit season.

A new study published in the June 8 online issue of the Neurology tells me something I already knew, but from a different angle. Older people who don’t exercise are at a greater risk for “silent strokes” that create small brain lesions over time and lead to impaired memory, increased risk of falls, and even dementia. If you engage in moderate exercise, however, you can reduce your risk of these silent strokes by about 40 percent.

Forgetfulness and lack of focus aren't inevitable consequences of aging – with attention to diet and supplements, brain health can be maintained through the years.