Wellness Compass

Hello! I'm your wellness advocate, cheering for your healthy life. Brain Health: It's Not Just "Other People's Problems" Anymore Does the word "dementia" weigh heavily on your mind? Many of you likely worry that you, or perhaps your beloved parents, might one day face this challenge. In fact, statistics show that 1 in 10 seniors over the age of 65 suffers from dementia . However, we shouldn't just sit and worry! Dementia is not merely an inevitable part of aging; it is a condition that we can often prevent or delay through lifestyle improvements . Today, we will explore key lifestyle habits to keep your brain young and healthy for the long haul. It's not difficult, so shall we start practicing them one by one? Intellectual stimulation, such as reading, is the most effective way to build your brain's 'Cognitive Reserve'. (Ph...

"나도 혹시?" 깜빡하는 일이 잦아질 때마다 가슴이 철렁 내려앉습니다. 우리가 치매를 두려워하는 이유는 명확합니다. 그것이 단순한 '기억의 상실'을 넘어, '나라는 존재의 소실'을 의미하기 때문입니다. 통계청에 따르면 65세 이상 인구 10명 중 1명이 치매를 앓고 있다고 합니다. 결코 남의 이야기가 아닙니다. 하지만 두려움에 떨고만 있을 필요는 없습니다. 최신 뇌과학은 '뇌 가소성(Neuroplasticity)' 을 이야기합니다. 나이가 들어도 뇌세포는 새로운 연결을 만들 수 있고, 적절한 자극을 주면 기능이 개선될 수 있다는 뜻입니다. 치매는 막을 수 없는 운명이 아니라, 관리 가능한 위험입니다. 오늘 이야기는 그 위험을 통제하는 4가지 논리적인 방법에 관한 것입니다. 우리의 뇌는 죽을 때까지 성장할 잠재력을 가지고 있습니다. (Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash) 1. 뇌는 '새로움'을 먹고 자랍니다 (인지 예비능) 근육을 쓰지 않으면 위축되듯, 뇌도 마찬가지입니다. 매일 똑같은 루틴, 익숙한 길, 쉬운 TV 시청은 뇌를 '게으르게' 만듭니다. 뇌를 자극하는 가장 좋은 방법은 '낯설음' 입니다. 외국어를 배우거나 악기를 연주하는 것 같은 고차원적인 활동이 좋지만, 꼭 거창할 필요는 없습니다. 가보지 않은 길로 산책하기 오른손잡이라면 왼손으로 양치질 해보기 간단한 계산은 암산으로 해결하기 이런 작은 불편함...

Empathy Through Food — 7 Brain-Nourishing Recipes for Midlife and Beyond Food is more than fuel — it’s emotional language. Sharing a meal can steady the mind, soothe the nervous system, and reconnect hearts during life’s hormonal changes. 1️⃣ Why Food Is Emotional Communication Cooking for someone is empathy you can taste. Eating together boosts oxytocin and synchronizes heart rhythms, reducing stress and loneliness. Harvard Health calls this the “social nervous system at the dinner table.” Every shared meal is a message: “You matter. You’re safe.” 2️⃣ The Brain’s Midlife Fuel As hormones shift, the brain’s glucose use declines — and it turns toward fats and antioxidants for energy. Omega-3s, polyphenols, and plant-based meals help maintain memory and calm mood. ( MDPI — Metabolites Journal, 2020 ) 3️⃣ Seven Brain-Loving Foods to Share ...

Empathy Over Advice — The Art of Listening to Your Partner During menopause and midlife changes, words of logic may fail — but empathy never does. Understanding the neuroscience of listening can transform conflict into connection. 1️⃣ Why “Good Advice” Often Fails When someone we love struggles, our instinct is to fix it. Yet logic doesn’t reach the part of the brain that needs comfort most. Under stress, the amygdala fires first while the prefrontal cortex goes offline — meaning advice can feel like distance, while empathy feels like safety. “You don’t need to fix me — just stay with me.” 2️⃣ The Neuroscience of Listening Empathic listening activates the brain’s mirror neuron network , helping us “feel into” another’s world. When you listen fully — eye contact, warmth, silence — your brain waves begin to synchronize with hers. This is interpersonal neural resonance , the b...

Between Heat and Chill — Hot Flashes, Sleep, and the Brain’s Role Hot flashes and sleepless nights are not random — they reflect the brain’s struggle to regulate temperature and restore balance after estrogen declines. Understanding this turns frustration into empathy. 1️⃣ When the Body Heats Up Without Warning You’ve seen it happen — she suddenly feels flushed, fans herself, or wakes drenched in sweat. That surge of heat comes from the hypothalamus , the brain’s thermostat, misfiring as hormonal signals fluctuate. She’s not being dramatic — her brain is literally trying to protect her. 2️⃣ Inside the Brain: Serotonin, Thermoregulation, and Sleep Estrogen helps regulate serotonin , which influences both mood and body heat. When estrogen levels fall, serotonin becomes unstable — and so does temperature control. Meanwhile, melatonin — the hormone governing sleep — also decline...

Men Need to Understand Menopause — A Journey of Mind and Body Over the past year, I noticed changes in my wife — her mood, sleep, and energy. I learned that menopause is not about emotion, but about biology and the brain. To every husband, son, and daughter: She’s not becoming someone new — she’s adapting. Now it’s our turn to love her more wisely. Series Overview Part 1 — Menopause Isn’t Just a Mood: The Hormonal Waves Behind Women’s Emotions How estrogen affects emotion, sleep, and cognition — and why partners must understand the science. Part 2 — Between Heat and Chill: Hot Flashes, Sleep, and the Brain The neurobiology of hot flashes and sleep disturbance — and what loving partners can do to help. Part 3 — After Menopause, Women’s Brains Can Grow Stronger Neuroplasticity and resilience: how the brain stabilizes and recovers after hormonal change. Part 4 —...

Is Women’s Memory Really About Hormones? — The Truth After Menopause #Women’s Brain Health Series “Why do I keep forgetting things lately?” Many women experience noticeable memory changes after menopause. But science shows memory decline isn’t just about estrogen — it’s about how hormones, stress, sleep, and inflammation interact inside the brain. 💡 Memory loss is not just hormonal — it’s the balance between neural connection, resilience, and lifestyle habits. 1️⃣ Estrogen: The “Conductor” of Memory Estrogen enhances synaptic connections and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, both vital for learning and memory. Yet even as estrogen levels decline, the brain can adapt — building new neural pathways to maintain cognitive function. This shows the female brain is more flexible than fr...