Wellness in the News for July, 2026
Grandparents matter for children's mental health
A child psychologist says grandparents are more important than ever as youth mental health continues to decline. He argues that children need supportive relationships, meaningful conversations, and a sense of purpose—not just pressure to achieve. Grandparents can help by listening, encouraging, and creating positive experiences that strengthen emotional resilience.
Bonus points: Seniors are less likely to be phone addicts. That can only work toward the positive.
They knew the pill was fake but memory still improved
Researchers discovered that healthy older adults experienced measurable improvements in memory, physical performance, and anxiety after taking placebo pills for just three weeks. The most surprising finding was that the placebo often worked even when participants knew the pills were completely inactive.
The power of positive thinking never ceases to amaze me.
Your brain can keep improving into your 90s
A new three-year study from researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Brain Health (CBH) found that getting older does not automatically mean losing mental sharpness. Instead, the results indicate that brain health and cognitive abilities can continue to improve throughout life.
Some years ago, John Robbins wrote about the same phenomenon in his book "Healthy at 100." Highly recommended reading.
The 20-minute rule for insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, affecting an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the U.S. For the vast majority of us, the harder we try to sleep, the more elusive it becomes. But help may be available in the form of something deceptively simple and completely counterintuitive — getting out of bed when you can’t sleep. Known as the “20-minute rule for insomnia,” sleep specialists have recommended this strategy for decades.
Internal heat is to blame. Get up, ventilate the heat, and go back to bed. Works for me.
Omega-3 fish oil does not improve brain health
A large clinical trial conducted by the University of Southern California found that omega-3 fish oil supplements failed to improve memory or slow brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
However, the supplements did start to grow gills on some very fishy folks.
New treatment helps avoid knee replacement surgery
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is what researchers at the University of Colorado are calling it: A minimally invasive procedure for chronic knee pain that is helping patients find significant relief without undergoing major surgery.
People with mild to moderate osteoarthritis tend to benefit the most. Patients with more advanced disease can also undergo the procedure, although the effects are generally less durable.