Body and Soul: Clear Your Mind

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Perimenopause and menopause can impact just about every part of the body (hello, itchy ears and blurry vision!) — including your brain.

A UCLA researcher explores the connection we should be talking more about. Here’s what else is on the docket:

Three common medications that older adults may be overusing
An inside look at clinical trials for cancer
Our recommendation for a superstar SPF that also reduces fine lines

Think Again

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You're probably already painfully familiar with brain fog if you're going through perimenopause or menopause, but estrogen is a bigger player in your clarity of mind than you might realize. A researcher whose work explores the link between women’s aging bodies and decreased cognition tells us about new ways to address this mental fatigue, why current treatment options need improvement, and the funding obstacles getting in the way.

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And if you're wondering whether you are experiencing menopausal brain fog (or your symptoms are being dismissed as "just part of getting old"), this six-question assessment will help you decide if it's time to talk to a doctor about it.

A Touch Too Much?

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Taking a pill to cure what ails us is almost automatic, especially if that drug is of the seemingly innocuous over-the-counter variety. But doctors warn that reaching for the pill bottle too often can have serious effects. Here's a look at three common medications you might want to cut back on.

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Good Thinking

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Who do you turn to when you're dealing with stress or anxiety in between your therapy appointments? Our partners at Talkspace created Tee, a secure AI mental health guide, which offers private, around-the-clock emotional support. It's tested for safety and protected by HIPAA, and while it's not a replacement for a human therapist, it's trained by professionals to give you evidence-based guidance anytime the need arises.

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Finger on the Pulse

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There have reportedly been four recent deaths in Pennsylvania linked to an outbreak of measles, but the CDC isn't counting them in its official tally, underscoring a conflict rarely seen in America's public health system. Here's more on the discrepancy — and a look at how measles cases are moving through the U.S.
Clinical trials are essential to cancer care — but they're also misunderstood. In this episode of Next Question (presented in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company), actor Rob Lowe opens up about how a clinical trial extended his grandmother's life after her breast cancer diagnosis.
After spiking sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study found that alcohol use in the U.S. fell between 2022 and 2024 — but with an interesting caveat when it comes to age. While drinking decreased among millennials and Gen Z during the duration of this research, drinking among adults from 50 to 64 actually went up over the same period.

One More Thing

The best sun protection is the one you actually want to wear every day. This superb SPF is formulated for mature skin, and it does double duty as both a sunscreen and a moisturizer that addresses sunspots and fine lines.

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