Tag Archive for: brain

Manteniendo Tu Melón

/in /by

Tuesday, we talked about Maintaining Your Melon — or manteniendo tu melón in Spanish. The U.S. POINTER study demonstrated that cognitive decline could be reduced using two different approaches in over 2,000 subjects with an average age of 68. Based on the U.S. POINTER design, the Latin American Initiative for Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline (LatAm-FINGERS), was adapted for use in 11 Latin American countries. The results were similar to the U.S. POINTER study; both groups improved their global cognitive scores. The approach was slightly different.

While they also used a similar demographic for age, health issues, and diminished global cognitive status, and a structured approach and self-guided approach, they tailored it for every country, which I think was brilliant. It’s similar to the approach used in studies that teach the Mediterranean diet but adapted for specific countries and culture.

Why try to teach people to focus on eating wholegrain pasta when the primary source of carbs in that country is wholegrain rice? That applies to the types of vegetables, fruits, protein sources, and spices used in cooking. But that’s not all. They also used forms of movement most likely to get greater participation for the exercise program. Salsa, tango, and large-group outdoor exercise programs were incorporated into the exercise program if it was part of the culture. I think that approach should be universal for all lifestyle programs.

The question could be raised as to why the structured program was more beneficial in any of the countries where this type of study was used. Although the programs didn’t answer that, in my opinion, it’s the personal attention that the subjects received with diet and exercise. Those participants benefit the most because they can get personalized direction exactly at the time they need it. Keep that in mind when you think you’re ready to change your lifestyle. What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Complementar Su Dieta

P.S. If Spanish is your first language, this downloadable MP3 may be just what you need to make sure your supplements are the right ones for your lifestyle. Check out Complementar Su Dieta at drchet.com for only $8.95 (Member and Insider discounts apply).

Reference: Lancet, 2026; 408 (10553): 417 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01278-X

Maintaining Your Melon

/in /by

Changing one’s lifestyle is difficult to do, and I think it’s especially challenging if the benefits could be years in the future — specifically doing those things that need to be done now to reduce the decline in cognition that happens as we get older. Two recently published studies have demonstrated how that’s possible. The characteristics of both were a structured program of changes in diet, exercise, learning and remembering, and social interaction with intermittent personal guidance from nutrition and exercise specialists. That regimen was compared with a control group who was provided with the same information but without the personalized assistance.

U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) was adapted for the U.S. based on a Finnish study. The primary outcome was a combination of surveys typically used to measure global cognitive status as well as other health metrics tested before and at six-month intervals for two years. Over 2,000 subjects between 60 to 79 were recruited from five sites throughout the U.S.; subjects were randomly assigned to the structured program or the self-guided program.

After two years, both groups experienced an improvement in the global cognitive status; those in the structured program experienced a greater improvement than the self-guided group. In fact, every sub-group experienced a mean improvement in cognition. That can result in reducing or delaying dementia and Alzheimer’s disease if sustained over the remainder of their lifespan. While these results were great, could there be an even better way to protect your melon? I’ll let you know on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Bottom Line on Alzheimer's Disease

P.S. Is Alzheimer’s disease a concern for you or your family? Learn more about it with The Bottom Line on Alzheimer’s Disease at drchet.com; get the MP3 or PDF for only $2.99 (free for Insiders).

Reference: AMA. 2025;334(8):681-691. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.12923

Shield Your Brain!

/in /by

For everyone who has purchased Protecting Your Brain, the first update will be on the way soon. As I stated in the webinar, when there is something important related to your brain I’ll send up an update, and a recent study is worth a follow up: researchers demonstrated that the microbiome in your mouth is beneficial to reducing the risk of mild cognitive impairment.

For the rest of you, don’t miss an opportunity to literally protect your brain and to help retain your memories and skills as well as the ability to learn new skills regardless of age. Isn’t that what’s it all about? Protecting Your Brain is my webinar that provides you with state-of-the-research ways to be able to do that. This webinar will teach you how brains get damaged, what’s normal and what’s not, and which activities, foods, and supplements will help protect it.

This webinar is available for download in my store right now for only $14.95 (Member and Insider discounts apply; be sure to log in first). You’ll learn how to protect your brain whether you’re 25 or 75.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

How Can You Safeguard Your Brainpower?

/in /by

If there’s one thing we all would like, it would be to retain as many of our memories as we can as well as all of the things we’ve learned over our lifetime. We’d also like the ability to learn new things, like how to make a doll house for our granddaughter or how to bake our favorite dessert. In order to do that, we have to do whatever we can to keep our brain functioning properly.

Protecting Your Brain is my webinar that provides you with state-of-the-research ways to be able to do that. This webinar will teach you:

  • The factors that can impact and damage your brain
  • What is normal brain function and what is not
  • What can you do to protect your brain in spite of prior damage?
    • Continual Learning
    • Fitness – functional and body health
    • The best diet to protect your brain
    • Supplementation that supports the brain

This webinar is available for download in my store right now, and includes the questions about brain health I asked for weeks ago with answers based on the most current research.

The cost of the webinar is just $14.95 (Member and Insider discounts apply), but it contains priceless things you can do to protect your brain whether you’re 25 or 75. This webinar is for you. Don’t wait to get your copy. Do it now—you might forget it later!

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

The Command Center

/in /by

We’re going to finish this month’s look at living life instead of just being alive by talking about brain health. The brain is the command center of the body, telling it what to do 24/7 without you having to think about it. Be honest: when was the last time you consciously told your heart to beat? It also handles conscious requests from you. Probably the most important part of our brain is our ability to think and recall memories.

In the past 10 to 15 years, a lot has been written about how to keep our brains healthy. For all we think we know, we really don’t know all that much, but there are three things that we need to do. I’ve already talked enough about exercise; what was good for the heart, muscles, joints, and balance is also good for the brain. But another type of exercise involves using the brain, such as reading, doing puzzles, listening to music, and learning new skills. For more on this topic, see How to Have a Healthy Brain.

Second, what we eat can impact brain health, as well as what we shouldn’t eat. This will come as no surprise: your diet should start with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and nuts. Whole grains are good as are quality oils such as olive oil and flaxseed oil. What we should avoid are overly processed foods, especially limiting refined carbohydrates and sugars.

Hand in glove with that, the majority of us need to eat less. Eating too much not only exposes us to usually highly processed foods, it contributes to being overweight and type 2 diabetes. Both can contribute to poor brain function over time.

We’ll finish this month’s look at living every day on Thursday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

The Mediterranean Diet and Stroke Risk

/in /by

As American Heart Month continues, let’s take a look at a recently published study on the Mediterranean diet and stroke (1); this study fits in nicely with Go Red campaign as well because it contained over 130,000 women educators who are part of the California Teachers Study. The study has followed these women since 1995, and over 300 articles have been published from data collected in this study.

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of the study, I want to make sure you understand what a stroke is: an interruption in blood flow to the area . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.