Human beings are moving towards a cognitive decline. Well, not entirely. But the collective cognitive capacity, which is our ability to apply our intelligence to real-world uses is on a downward trajectory. While research on this is still at preliminary levels, there is empirical evidence that shows that our capacity to reason, concentrate and solve problems peaked in the early 2010s and has been declining ever since.

This claim was substantiated recently by a report published in the Financial Times, which indicated that people across age groups are having trouble concentrating and losing reasoning, problem-solving, and information-processing skills.

So What's Driving Intelligence Decline?

The mere presence of smartphones reduces our "available cognitive capacity." In a study published in 2017, they found that volunteers were significantly better able to retain and process information if their phone was in another room. Simply turning off or hiding the phone didn't work: people still suffered a "brain drain" when their device was nearby.

Can Air Pollution Impact Cognition?

"Polluted air can cause everyone to reduce their level of education by one year, which is huge," Xi Chen, one of the study authors, told The Guardian. He stressed that the pollution was "most likely to be the cause of the loss of intelligence, rather than simply being a correlation".

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Is AI Affecting our IQ?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionised world industries but with a "less discussed consequence" is its contribution to the decline of human cognitive skills. Earlier tools, such as calculators, simplified tasks but "did not erode our ability to think critically". The user still had to "understand the basics of the task at hand". But AI is already "reshaping the way we process information", often "diminishing our reliance on our own cognitive abilities". Effectively, it is "'thinking' for us".

While several researchers have concluded that AI is negatively impacting intelligence in children, the effect is also being felt in workplaces. The National Institute of Health cautions against "AI-induced skill decay", a result of over-reliance on AI-based tools. As AI assistants become increasingly prevalent, the role AI might have on skill development needs to be considered, according to the report. While AI can enhance productivity, it also carries the risk of stifling human innovation. When employees turn to AI for routine tasks, they may miss out on opportunities to practice and refine their cognitive abilities, potentially leading to a mental atrophy that limits their capacity for independent thought.

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A surprising number of people in the UK are giving more attention to their cars than to their own health, even though heart disease is the biggest threat to life in the country.

New research revealed that for many, booking a car in for its mandatory annual check-up (the MOT) is a routine priority. Yet, when it comes to vital check-ups for their own health, like a simple cholesterol test, a lot of people fall short. This is particularly worrying because heart disease remains the single leading cause of death in the UK.

The research suggests that we take the warning lights on a car dashboard more seriously than the potential warning signs—or the need for preventative checks—in our own bodies, putting comfort and convenience ahead of potentially life-saving health screenings.

Ignoring Warning Health Signs

The survey, commissioned by supplement brand Healthspan showed a startling gap between how Britons treat their vehicles and their health.

• Nearly two-thirds (66%) of people aged 35 to 54 faithfully book their cars in for an annual MOT (a yearly safety and emissions check).
• However, fewer than half of the same group have had their cholesterol checked in the last five years.
• Overall, almost half of the 2,000 people surveyed admitted they have never had their cholesterol checked at all.

Experts pointed out that people wouldn't ignore a flashing warning light on their car's dashboard, yet they often ignore the warning signs from their own bodies. He stressed that midlife is the most important time for checks on blood pressure and cholesterol, even for those who feel perfectly fine.

What Health Concerns Matter More To People?

The survey revealed that people's worries often focus more on appearance and immediate concerns than on serious health risks like heart disease.

• Women's top worries included wrinkles and weight gain around the middle, ranking higher than heart health.
• Men's primary concerns were erectile dysfunction and having a "beer belly," which they worried about more than heart disease.
• Surprisingly, one in five Britons admitted that loneliness worried them more than being ill.

Why Does Cholesterol Matter?

Cholesterol is often called the "silent killer." While it's necessary for things like hormones and cell membranes, too much of the "bad" LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries. This dangerous build-up significantly increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

The shocking truth is that you can be slim, active, and appear healthy, but still have high cholesterol. A nutritionist involved with the study was diagnosed with high cholesterol this year despite being fit and health-conscious.

One cannot assume they’re fine just because they look healthy. Knowing your numbers matters.

So, what is the solution for it? Managing cholesterol isn't just about cutting things out of your diet; it's about adding things in. Foods like oats, beans, nuts, olive oil, and plant sterols can actively help lower your cholesterol levels.

What Test Do You Need To Know Cholesterol Numbers?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a cholesterol test, also called a screening, is a very simple blood test that checks the different types of fat, or lipids, in your blood. It gives your doctor a complete picture of your heart health risk.

LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol

Too much LDL can cause a sticky substance called plaque to build up inside your arteries, making them narrow. This buildup greatly increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

HDL ("Good") Cholesterol

HDL actually helps your body get rid of the bad cholesterol. Having higher levels of HDL is protective and helps lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Triglycerides

This is a type of fat your body uses for energy. High levels of triglycerides, especially when combined with low "good" HDL or high "bad" LDL, can also increase your risk for a heart attack and stroke.

Total Cholesterol

This is simply the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. This number is a summary of all the fats in your blood, calculated from your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride results.

The human body doesn't age at the same rate everywhere. Right now, it's very likely that some parts of you are biologically older than others. This surprising idea comes from a recent study published in the science journal Cell. The main finding was that different organs don't follow the same schedule for aging.

Researchers discovered that certain body parts start showing signs of wear and tear like changes in their basic chemistry, long before other parts do. Tracking these varied timelines is a major goal for scientists, as it could eventually lead to new ways to slow down the aging process.

When Do Organs Start Aging Faster?

A study in the journal Cell analyzed proteins across different tissues to see when and how organs age. Researchers focused on proteins because they are fundamental to life, but a timeline of aging based on these proteins hadn't been mapped out before.

• Researchers studied 516 tissue samples from the hearts, lungs, liver, and several other organs of 76 deceased people.
• They found that while overall aging seems to pick up speed around age 50, many organs show major changes between 45 and 55.
• Surprisingly, organs like the aorta (the body's largest artery), spleen, and adrenal glands already showed noticeable protein changes by age 30.
• This "early and pronounced aging of the aorta" suggests that aging in blood vessels might be a major driver of how fast the whole body ages.

How Does Faster Aging Affect Our Health?

It’s difficult for doctors to apply these specific findings right now, but they do offer fascinating clues:

Silent Aging

Researchers still need to figure out the exact meaning of the protein changes they observed. Are these changes a bad sign of decline, a neutral side effect of getting older, or even a helpful response by the body to protect itself?

Disease Connection

The scientists found amyloid which is a protein famous for its role in Alzheimer’s disease, accumulating in other aging organs besides the brain. Even more exciting, they found certain proteins in the blood that seem to cause aging.

New Targets for Treatment

If future research can confirm this, it lays the groundwork for developing new therapies. In theory, drugs could be used to "clear those proteins" from the body, potentially reversing some aging processes.

How to Boost Longevity?

Although this new research holds great promise for the future, experts emphasize that for now, the best strategy for a long and healthy life is to stick to tried-and-true habits. These basic, proven healthy practices are your most powerful tools. They include:

• Eating a balanced diet.
• Staying physically active.
• Getting enough quality sleep.
• Learning to manage stress.
• Staying connected with your community.

The key takeaway from the new research is that you shouldn't put these habits off. Since aging, especially in key organs, starts earlier than you might realize, it's time to act now. Incorporating these healthy routines in your 20s and 30s is the best way you can try to "slow down this clock."

Doctors traditionally look for four main things when checking for heart disease. One is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. The others include high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking.

However, a new study suggests that many women are still at risk for heart attacks and strokes, even if they don't have any of these classic problems. The study highlights that doctors may be missing a key danger sign in these women: inflammation.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 44% of all women in the U.S. which is over 60 million, already have some kind of heart disease. It's the number one cause of death for women of all ages in the U.S.

In 2023 alone, it caused the deaths of nearly 305,000 women, which is about 1 out of every 5 female deaths. Worryingly, only about half of U.S. women actually know that heart disease is their biggest killer.

What Contribute To Heart Diseases?

The research, published in the European Heart Journal, found that inflammation in the body is strongly linked to heart issues in women who are otherwise considered low-risk.

Researchers used a simple blood test that checks for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). A high hsCRP number suggests the person has chronic, or long-term, inflammation.

The study looked at over 12,500 healthy American women who did not smoke and did not have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Over 30 years, women with high hsCRP levels were much more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or need heart surgery.

One of the study authors stated that inflammation, measured by the hsCRP test, is at least as good (if not better) at predicting future heart attack and stroke risk as cholesterol is.

Experts explain that inflammation is a key force behind heart disease because it helps plaque form inside blood vessels and causes that plaque to become unstable and rupture.

Should You Get Tested for Inflammation?

This study raises a big question: Should doctors routinely check everyone's inflammation levels?

Some cardiologists feel the hsCRP test could catch a hidden risk, especially in women who don't have the typical warning signs. If doctors don't measure inflammation, they won't treat the risk.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Testes For Inflammation?

Other experts caution that not every woman needs to rush to get tested. Most heart disease is still explained by the old risk factors like smoking and high cholesterol. Also, a high hsCRP number can simply cause worry, and many people with a high score will never develop heart disease. They suggest that other tools, like a coronary calcium scan which directly looks for hidden plaque, might be more helpful for some patients.

Some warning signs of a heart attack include early periods, early menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery.

What Lifestyle Habits Help Reduce Inflammation?

Regardless of whether you get the test or not, the good news is that the best ways to lower inflammation are the same things doctors already recommend for a healthy heart:

• Exercise
• Healthy eating
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding smoking