Issue 62 | June 6, 2025
Happy Friday,
Brain health is at the forefront of our mind this Alzheimer’s Awareness month. New research suggests the MIND diet—a combination of the antioxidant-rich Mediterranean diet and low-saturated fat DASH diet—may slash dementia risk by 25%.
In today’s issue:
Breakthrough Alzheimer’s blood test
The swallow test and stress
How much coffee is anti-aging for women
and much more…
WISDOM FOR LIFE
Biology gives you a brain. Life turns it into a mind.
Jeffrey Eugenides
👁️🗨️SPOTLIGHT
Breakthrough blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
image credit: freepik
🩸 The FDA has approved the first blood test designed to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent report from Yale Medicine. It’s being called a “game changer" by Yale’s clinical chief of neurodegenerative disorders, Dr. Sayed Azizi.
The test, Lumipulse, created by Japan-based company Fujirebio Diagnostics, measures the concentration of two key proteins in blood plasma. These detect the build-up of amyloid plaque—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. 🧠
Overcoming roadblocks in diagnosing dementia
Until now, diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s have been expensive, invasive, or inaccessible:
PET scans (positron emission tomography) detect inflammatory amyloid plaques in the brain.
Spinal tap extracts cerebrospinal fluid in the spine to find proteins linked to the disease.
Faster diagnoses mean earlier interventions: With seven million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s—and a number that is expected to grow—blood tests like Lumipulse could lead to faster diagnosis and earlier access to interventions that slow the disease. 💪
Caveats: Lumipulse is only approved for people ages 55 and older who present early warning signs of the disease. It does not diagnose other types of dementia.
What you can do now: Healthy lifestyle is the best form of prevention:
🏋️ Exercise alone can reduce Alzheimer’s risk by 45%
🤸 Managing diabetes, hypertension, and depression, can be critical to memory
LIVE MORE
Generational brains: Why experts are predicting lower rates of dementia among the younger generations.
The AI Alzheimer’s revolution: How digital twins could transform Alzheimer’s diagnoses.
Exciting Announcement
Save the date! Our first AMA is next week with Dr. Oren, a leading expert on heart disease and longevity. Don’t forget to add the event to your calendar and come ready with questions.
WELLNESS WATCH
The swallow test: What your throat tells you about stress
image credit: freepik
Do you know the feeling of a ‘lump in your throat?’ Like an egg has been lodged there and you can’t swallow. 🥚
Swallowing is an automatic function–much like breathing–but stress can impact this natural physiological process. According to a recent article in The Indian Express, difficulty swallowing (called dysphagia) could actually reflect a dysregulated nervous system.
Swallowing and stress
In moments of stress, our body enters survival mode, deprioritizing ‘rest-and-digest' for ‘fight or flight’ mode. 🥊 When this happens, throat muscles tighten and swallowing becomes harder.
The deeper meaning could reflect a weak or non-active vagus nerve–the nerve that controls the parasympathetic nervous system (calm). 🪷
Self-check: Try swallowing three times in a row. If it feels strained, your nervous system might be slightly dysregulated. It’s important to understand that the impact can go beyond discomfort, leading to weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration. 🥵
Regulate the nerves, open the throat: Try ‘Voo’ breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, or throat massage.
Note that swallowing difficulties are not always caused by stress. Seek physician guidance if it’s gone on for a long time, or it’s interfering with daily activities.
IN OTHER NEWS
☕ The right brew to help women age better
image credit: freepik
By the time a woman hits midlife, coffee does more than shake away the sleep. A recent study following 50,000 women found that those who drink coffee are more likely to experience “healthy” aging: living to age 70 or older without 11 major chronic diseases, being functional, and having good mental health and memory.
What’s the right brew? Surprisingly, not decaf coffee or tea—they did not show the same aging benefits. Based on the research, 1.5 to 2.5 large cups provide benefits if consumed daily.
While not a miracle, studies like this reaffirm coffee’s role in being neuroprotective, and it’s an easy intervention that promotes longevity and health span.
Poll
What does your coffee routine look like?
Today’s top reads
💧 Controversial flouride: 25 countries in the European Union do not fluoridate their water, according to a recent BBC News report. While the US has debated removing it, it appears to be safe at modest levels, and can prevent tooth decay. Europe also happens to have the highest prevalence of major oral disease, according to WHO data.
🖐️ Universal raisins: Wet fingers wrinkle in the same pattern on every hands. Blood vessels might explain why.
😤 No more ‘maybe tomorrow:’ Overcoming the struggle of pushing aside passions.
🌶️ Can you handle the heat? This ‘anti-spice’ molecule could be a game-changer if you struggle with spicy food.
LONG-LEVITY
The quest to understand tickling
This research isn’t just for laughs.
At Radbound University in the Netherlands, neuroscientist Konstantina Kilteni leads a ‘Tickle lab’ to understand the ‘under-researched’ biological and evolutionary aspects of tickling.
Tickling has been a topic of fascination since Socrates, and it’s universally confusing why we giggle when tickled by others—but not ourselves.
The lab is set to study how tickling affects the brain and our physical state of being—heart rate, sweating, breathing, laughing, and emotional reactions.
Kilteni hopes it finally gets people to take “tickling research seriously.” The irony is not lost. “Not only will we be able to truly understand tickling, but also our brains.”
LIVELONG+
📚 READ: How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger.
🎧 WATCH: The smallest habit with the biggest difference, from a world-renowned doctor.
🍽️ TASTE: Choose food quality over cutting carbs.
💬 SHARE: Share this newsletter to connect others with longevity tips.
🙂 REWIND: The mind and mastering the art of aging.
✏️ This weeks prompt
Email us with your answer. We read every response and want to feature your answer in our newsletter.
In one sentence: What does “healthy aging” actually mean?
Until next time,
- Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider. We try to give the most accurate possible, but sometimes information is subject to change.
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