A growing body of research suggests that your food choices can affect the long-term health of your brain. In fact, one study showed that those who scored in the top third in terms of adherence to the MIND diet were associated with being 7.5 years younger in brain age versus those who scored in the lower third. So how does the MIND diet work? Which foods are in the MIND diet—and what are some practical tips to help us to incorporate this eating pattern into our lives? Leslie Beck (pictured above) gets the answers from two of the researchers who helped develop the MIND diet: cognitive neurologist Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, and nutritionist Dr. Christy Tangney, both of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

A growing body of research indicates the MIND diet can be so protective of the brain that one study showed those who most adhered to it had a brain age 7.5 years younger compared to those who least adhered to the diet. So how does the MIND diet work? Which foods are in the MIND diet—and what are some practical tips to help us to incorporate this eating pattern into our lives? In the second of our three-part series on Alzheimer’s, Leslie Beck (pictured above) gets the answers from two of the researchers who helped develop the MIND diet: cognitive neurologist Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, and nutritionist Dr. Christy Tangney, both of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

Research into therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is progressing, and one day soon, those who are diagnosed early enough may be able to delay onset of the disease for so long that they never experience symptoms. So what’s happening at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research? What are the latest therapies, and how are doctors getting better at diagnosing it? What can we all do to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s? Medcan senior medical consultant Dr. Lorne Greenspan checks in with clinical director of genetics Jessica Gu and Dr. Sharon Cohen of the Toronto Memory Program, a global expert on the disease (pictured above).

What exactly is energy? Is it a chemical to be measured, a feeling or even just a “vibe”? We know when we have it, and know even more when we don’t. How can we get more of it? At Columbia’s Picard Lab in New York, scientists study mitochondrial biology to understand our energy levels, how they can be affected by our psychological state, and how we can get more energy to get more things done every day. Here, lab director and professor of behavioural medicine Dr. Martin Picard (pictured above) and Medcan CEO Shaun Francis explore the biology behind energy, and provide us with tips on how we can get more of it.

“Liquid biopsy” is a form of cancer screening that detects biomarkers in the blood with a simple draw. Research indicates that it could help to detect disease months or even years before other, more expensive and more invasive forms of screening, helping to save lives. So how exactly does it work? Is it better at detecting some cancers compared to others? And how can it help oncologists treat already diagnosed cases? Medcan’s director of clinical innovation, Allison Hazell, investigates with the help of Dr. Lewis Roberts (pictured above), director of the Mayo Clinic’s Hepatobiliary Cancer Lab.

Scientific researchers believe that cardiorespiratory fitness, in the form of VO2max, should be a vital sign that doctors consider alongside heart rate and blood pressure—and Medcan has just taken steps to incorporate a test designed to provide clients with an estimate of their VO2max level. So what is VO2max—and why should you care? This episode provides the ultimate cardiorespiratory fitness explainer. Cohosted by Dr. Peter Nord and Dr. Andrew Miners, we provide background about the value and illustrate the effect it has on your longevity and quality of life.

More people than ever before are exercising to stay fit and active well into their senior years. The field of sports rehabilitation and therapy is flourishing as a result, with lots of therapies generating buzz. But which ones work for aging athletes, and which ones are a waste of money? Medcan Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Nord and Director of Orthopaedic Surgery Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde explore platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and more.

You know that exercising is good for your muscles and bones. But exercise can also improve brain health. In her new book, Move The Body, Heal The Mind, Dr. Jennifer Heisz of McMaster University’s NeuroFit Lab shares the latest research about how to use physical activity to optimize mental and cognitive wellness. Here, she speaks with Dr. Andrew Miners, Medcan’s clinical and product director of sports medicine, therapy, rehabilitation and fitness.

Keijo Taivassalo is 82 years old, and at the 2021 Boston Marathon he demolished the competition, winning his age group by more than 30 minutes. We think Keijo is the embodiment of the Eat Move Think approach to living a long and healthy life. So what’s his secret? We had Medcan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Peter Nord, sit down with Keijo to explore the life of the master marathoner, and the lessons the rest of us can draw from it.

Want a cheat sheet on how to extend your life, while staying healthy and happy along the way? Medcan Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Nord has been a sailor for more than 50 years. He noticed that his fellow sailors are staying incredibly fit, sharp and healthy well into their old age. This week, Dr. Nord joins host Shaun Francis to describe five secrets of longevity drawn from the sailor’s lifestyle.