HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL etc...update

 

The Guide to Advance Care Planning What you need to know to create sound and effective advance care directives... designate the proper health care proxy...prepare a viable living will...and more.

Bonus! Includes forms for preparing advance care directives that meets the latest rules and guidelines. ✓ One document which gives your wishes the authority of a physician-signed medical order ✓ The only time an advance directive is legally valid... ✓ Changing your advance care plan — can you do that? ✓ Why a living will may not always be the best option... ✓ And more. Dear Reader, Undoubtedly, you’ve thought about what you’d want if you were to suffer a debilitating illness, a sudden accident, or steadily declining health. But who else knows? Who will speak for you, if you can’t? For 9 out of 10 people today, end of life occurs in a health care setting. How can you be sure that doctors’ decisions reflect your intentions? How can you assure your wishes remain their priority? Advance care planning is about how you choose to live — all the way to the end. In this empowering new guide, you’ll learn the steps to take to assure that your wishes are never swept underfoot. The report will show you how to make the decisions and prepare those documents that will enable you to maintain control of your health care. You’ll learn why a health care power of attorney is such a critical instrument. You’ll find the questions to ask and conversation to have before selecting a proxy. You’ll know the important considerations in designing a living will that mirrors your desires. And you’ll discover a new form that is supplanting the traditional DNR. You don’t want your loved ones to have to guess in a moment of stress. Advance care directives are documents that keep everyone on the same page! During the time of an abrupt health crisis or final weeks of a terminal illness, you don’t want your family to be uncertain of your wishes, or worse, fighting with each other. The guide will help you decide upon your goals for care and show you how translate them into practical plans for care in the event of illness. You’ll find guidance that is clear, constructive, and current. In the report, Harvard Medical School doctors share 8 scenarios that will help you frame your choices. You’ll be warned about the common mistake that could handcuff your proxy and your doctor. You’ll find how laws now give proxies fuller latitude to discontinue an ineffective intervention. You’ll learn about a new device that could radically change your thinking about assisted ventilation…and more. And what if you are called upon to be a health care agent? The report includes ten tips to help you do a better job. You’ll find helpful advice for encouraging a reluctant friend or relative to get an advance directive…and the potential consequences if you don’t choose an agent or fill out a living will. Don’t put it off another day. Order your copy of Advance Care Planning now. To your better health, Timothy Cole Editorial Director, Harvard Health Publishing

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SUBSCRIBE | SHOP THE BOOKSTORE Simple ways to keep your mind sharp While there's no sure-fire way to prevent or cure dementia, research shows that your daily habits can play a powerful role in protecting your brain. From staying active and eating well to getting quality sleep and fostering social connections, small lifestyle changes can help slow cognitive decline and promote mental sharpness. Exercise Exercise offers an impressive array of health benefits. Not only does staying physically active help your brain, but it also helps lower your risk of these conditions: heart disease type 2 diabetes high blood pressure colon cancer breast cancer. Exercise also helps relieve insomnia, anxiety, and depression. In addition, it may help ward off cognitive decline and dementia. Some studies have shown that engaging in a program of regular exercise improves cognitive function in people with memory problems. Exercise may be particularly advantageous for people who carry the APOE4 gene variant, which makes people more susceptible to Alzheimer's. Get your copy of Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment This guide from Harvard Medical School explores the subtle differences between various forms of memory problems, breaks down the different types of MCI, and explains brain function and its role in creating and retrieving memories. You will learn the causes and risk factors for MCI, what doctors look for when diagnosing the condition, and medical as well as natural ways to treat or even prevent it.   SHOW ME MORE → A Mediterranean-style diet This eating pattern has long been recognized as promoting better cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of certain cancers, and may protect against cognitive decline. A Mediterranean diet also appears to lower the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and slow the progression to dementia in people who have the condition. A Mediterranean diet emphasizes: fruits vegetables whole grains beans nuts and seeds olive oil,  fish, poultry, and dairy products. Alcohol Studies show a link between regular consumption of more than moderate use of alcohol and a 22% higher Alzheimer's risk compared to nondrinkers. For many years, moderate alcohol use has been defined as having no more than seven drinks per week for women and 14 drinks per week for men. However, many experts are now questioning whether moderate drinking should mean even lower amounts. Sleep Our bodies rely on a certain amount of regular sleep for a variety of essential functions, many of them in the brain. Studies have shown that people who regularly sleep less than the recommended seven to eight hours a night score lower on tests of mental function. This may be because learning and memories are consolidated during sleep. Mental stimulation Staying mentally active as you age is important to brain health. One study found that mentally intact people in their 70s and 80s who engaged the most with mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, crossword puzzles, playing board or card games, engaging in group discussions, or playing music were half as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment as those who reported the least amount of participation. Social contacts Research shows that people with strong social ties are less likely to experience cognitive declines than those who are alone. Social activities require you to engage several important mental processes, including attention and memory, which can bolster cognition. Frequent engagement helps strengthen neural networks, slowing normal age-related declines. It may also help strengthen cognitive reserve, which can delay the onset of dementia. In addition, having a strong network of people who support and care for you can help lower your stress levels. By contrast, depression, which often goes hand in hand with loneliness, correlates to faster cognitive decline. To learn more about MCI, review the online guide from Harvard Medical School, Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment. Image: © South_agency/Getty Images Share this story: FEATURED CONTENT Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment • Worried about memory failure? • What is Mild Cognitive Impairment? • The making of a memory • When to worry about MCI and dementia • Evaluating MCI • Reversible causes of MCI • Treating MCI Click here to learn more » Copyright © 2026 by Harvard University. Harvard Health Publishing, Gordon Hall, Suite 013, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA