Wellness in the News for October, 2025
Welcome to my monthly newsletter
You probably know folks who would enjoy this month's newsletter,
with its special focus on wellness. Please share it with them.
For information on wellness coaching, fitness training,
or Chinese medicine,
Living with purpose protects your brain from dementia
"Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age," said Aliza Wingo, senior author and professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. "Even for people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease, sense of purpose was linked to a later onset and lower likelihood of developing dementia."
Research into Blue Zones -- regions of the world where people tend to live longer -- shows that having a sense of purpose in life helps people live longer.
This common sugar builds stronger cancer-killing T cells
Scientists at the Van Andel Research Institute have uncovered a sweet twist in the body’s fight against cancer. Glucose, best known as the fuel that powers our cells, also helps immune cells called T cells communicate and organize their attack on tumors. By turning sugar into special building blocks, T cells strengthen their internal signals and become far more effective cancer killers.
Some people have a problem with other sugars such as the fructose in fruit, the lactose in dairy, and the sucrose in pastries and candy. "Sugar" is not one food. It is not a "poison." It is a strong food. Moderation is the key.
The current war on “ultra-processed foods”
Lately, study after study comes out warning us of the supposed dangers of eating delicious and enjoyable food. What is never discussed is that the people scientists study are overweight and thus incapable of feeling hunger. The truth is, in the absence of the hunger feeling, their bodies want zero food.
Instead of blaming food, scientists' time would be better spent helping people eat less food by learning to trust their bodies. But nutritionist scientists, like most scientists, are not known for their common sense.
Scientists build micromotors smaller than a human hair
Using laser light instead of traditional mechanics, researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have built micro-gears that can spin, shift direction, and even power tiny machines. These breakthroughs could soon lead to revolutionary medical tools working at the scale of cells.
These will become the smallest on-chip motors in history, which will fit inside a strand of hair.