Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of June 30, 2021)

The Secrets of ‘Cognitive Super-Agers’–New York Times, June 21, 2021
New research on centenarians brings hope that many people may become “cognitive super-agers” (those who approach the end of the human life span with brains that function as if they were 30 years younger). It would, therefore, be possible to develop strategies that ward off Alzheimer’s disease and slow brain aging for all of us. Not unsurprisingly, lifestyle factors that contribute to prolonging cognitive capacity include (1) occupations that deal with complex facts and data, (2) a Mediterranean-style diet, (3) leisure activities and friendship, and (4) physical exercise.

How to Protect Species and Save the Planet—at Once–Wired, June 18, 2021
A major new report published by 50 scientists from around the world calls on humanity to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises simultaneously. The reason for doing so is simple: Skyrocketing global temperatures and plummeting biodiversity are compounding each other, making it impossible to treat each crisis in isolation. Nature-based solutions are the only way forward.

Hold the Tequila. The Sunrise Is All Some Travelers Need (Sober Tourism Goes Mainstream)–New York Times, June 24, 2021
Sober travel, once relegated to people in recovery, is going mainstream. A “close cousin to wellness tourism,” alcohol-free travel companies, whether We Love Lucid or Sober Outside—and destinations that make avoiding cocktails easy—are both seeing big spikes in popularity.

Beauty Brands Step into the Wellness Space to Address Our Collective Anxiety and Depression–Globe and Mail, June 26, 2021
Beauty brands are increasingly aligning themselves and their products with the mental wellness space. A trend spurred by the pandemic, they’re creating platforms where consumers can be open about their emotions, putting corporate money into mental health initiatives, and creating products whose aim is “emotional support”—whether pairing skin-care rituals to mental wellness practices to the new wave of functional fragrances.

The New Science of Sleep: Everything We Know About How It Affects Your Health and Brain–Science Focus, June 10, 2021
Dr. Matthew Walker is one of the world’s top authorities on the science of sleep (and recent author of Why We Sleep). In this short distillation of his book, he explains what happens if we have too little sleep, why we need a minimum of seven hours a night, why sleep keeps our brain healthy, why we dream, and much more! In short: Sleep is the single most effective thing we do each day to reset the health of our brain and body: “It’s an extraordinary elixir that can help you age well and live longer.”