The actions you take after waking up are more important than you might think.

Researchers compared cognitively healthy young adults with older adults. They found a key change in brain activity. Sep 21, 2026 Illustration: Inc.; Scientists have long linked sleep to memory, but new research may help explain why memory fades with age. The problem may not simply be how much sleep people get but what their brains are doing during deep sleep. In a study published in Nature Neuroscience, Omer Sharon, an incoming assistant professor of psychology at the University of California,

Early liver damage may not present symptoms; fatigue, itchy skin, and belly pain may appear as it gets worse. Quitting alcohol and making lifestyle changes early can help reverse damage. Liver cirrhosis—severe scarring—can't be healed.

Jyoti and Bharat Patel are testing dementia technology including sensors in socks, their bed and around the house.

These nutrient-packed vegetables may help support healthy kidneys and ease strain on the crucial organ.

Researchers found that getting more REM sleep—the stage when dreaming occurs—was associated with a lower risk of 83 diseases.

Cardiologists agree that unwinding with alcohol may be hurting your heart health. Alcohol intake may lead to higher blood pressure, which puts additional strain on the heart. Prioritizing sleep and engaging in physical activity, while limiting alcohol intake, may help protect your heart.

The term is trending on social media, but doctors caution against using visible features to diagnose yourself with low iron.

Bleeding while going to the loo is one of the symptoms most people associate with bowel cancer but there are other, less obvious changes that can appear first When it comes to bowel cancer, most of us know the warning about blood in your poo. It is one of the symptoms we are repeatedly told to look out for, and rightly so. But it is far from the only sign. Bowel cancer can cause changes that are much easier to explain away. Your bowel movements might suddenly become different. You might find

Worry is a natural response to AI’s threat of societal upheaval — but therapists say there are some things you can do to cope and feel better.

After six years of being dismissed, one test revealed the real cause of a Gen Zer's seizures and changed everything.

Some people with ADHD have difficulty focusing in noisy environments. Noise-canceling headphones may block out background sounds and help people with ADHD stay focused. Experts recommend people with ADHD practice mindfulness, try the Pomodoro technique, and seek accommodations at work.

Our lives are filled with habitual behaviours, both good and bad, but how do they form and how can we build better ones? September 13, 2026 The word ‘habits’ gets thrown around a lot. Your GP encourages you to get into the ‘good habit’ of eating five portions of fruit and veg a day; your friend worries about their ‘bad habit’ of checking Twitter before bed; maybe you once had a music teacher who kept on at you to practise your scales until they ‘feel habitual’. Or perhaps you’ve been telling

Neuroscientists show how the brain weighs effort against reward when we’re mentally fatigued This scenario will feel familiar to many parents: Imagine spending the day watching your kids—making them breakfast, settling arguments, answering their questions and trying to keep them from getting bored. By the end of the day, you finally take a moment to think about what to make them for dinner and, with it, whether you have the ingredients, how long it will take and whether your kids will even eat

Conversation errors like interrupting, dismissive language, or asking only closed-ended questions can make others feel unheard or disrespected. Everyday conversation habits can strengthen relationships or create distance, depending on how respectful and balanced they are.

Common patterns that can harm relationships include holding on to fixed narratives, masking your feelings, dwelling on mistakes, and rushing change. Unhelpful relationship habits often come from childhood beliefs and unresolved issues.

Unlike introverts, extroverts tend to be highly sociable, talkative, and energetic. There are different types of extroverts, including sensors, feelers, intutives, and thinkers. Setting practical goals and getting out of your comfort zone can help you be more extroverted.

Doing more than one thing at once, especially on screens, can become addictive, which harms the functioning of our brain and nervous system.

About 75% of people experience at least one dissociative episode in their lifetime. Common causes of dissociation include trauma, stress, and various mental health conditions like PTSD and anxiety.

A new weight-loss drug has arrived. And it’s far more powerful than anything that came before September 16, 2026 Retatrutide – otherwise known as ‘triple-G’, ‘GLP-3’ or ‘reta’ – is here. And people can’t get enough of it. The internet is full of users sharing their experiences with their new favourite peptide – progress updates on Reddit, advice on Instagram and explainers on YouTube. Why is it so popular? Well, retatrutide seems to shift fat extremely quickly. In clinical trials, participants

Why this matters: Cholesterol management has several components, and knowing what to avoid—and what to do instead—can make the management more successful. What you can do: Take cholesterol medication as prescribed, even when your cholesterol levels improve.

What we’re talking about: New research suggests that performance on tests measuring four aspects of fitness—strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance—may offer clues on how well you’re aging.

Boston College psychology professor Peter Gray’s new book argues that change in curriculum and achievement culture has more to do with teen anxiety than social media

Eating oatmeal daily can boost steady energy, support healthy blood sugar, and improve digestion thanks to its soluble fiber—especially beta-glucan.

Why this matters: Coffee can be healthy, but how healthy it is largely depends on the kind of coffee, how you make it, and what’s in it. What you can do: Choose paper-filtered, lighter-roast coffee, and limit added sugar, artificial creamers, and caffeine—especially near bedtime.