Latest news with #NationalSurvey
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The #1 Habit to Break to Improve Your Memory
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNKey Points Repeating the same routine daily may harm your memory and lower cognitive function over time. Switching up activities can improve memory, brain flexibility and emotional well-being. Trying new foods, workouts and hobbies keeps your brain stimulated and strengthens though the popularity of books like Atomic Habits or habit-stacking routines have been revolutionary for people to execute healthier and happier lifestyles, doing the same routines over and over can get you stuck in a rut. Worse, that rut could actually be damaging your cognitive function and impairing your memory. Yes, it's true—getting too stuck in your same routine over and over can be a detriment to your cognitive health—and research backs it up. Here's why. Changing Your Routine Of course, some habits, like diet and exercise, can help improve your health and reduce your risk of chronic disease. But one of the best things you can do for your brain is to break out of the need to constantly set habits and avoid getting stuck in the same routine. For instance, one study found that diversifying your daily activities and changing up what you do can actually result in higher overall cognitive functioning. The study evaluated participant data from the National Survey of Daily Experiences and found that participants with diversity in seven common daily activities, including paid work, time with children, leisure, physical activities and volunteering, ended up having higher scores for cognitive and executive functioning. Episodic memory was also better for those with higher activity diversity. Even if you find yourself changing up what happens day-to-day, sometimes you can get stuck in the same routines in other areas of your life, like eating the same meals or scrolling too much on your phone. Research shows a balanced, diverse diet leads to better mental health and superior cognitive function. In fact, shifting your food choices actually results in increased activity in your posterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain in charge of your cognitive and behavioral processes. Changing your routine can seem intimidating, especially after you have worked so hard to set a healthier routine and lifestyle. However, you can still mix up your routine in clever ways and maintain your healthy habits at the same time. For example, switch up your routine in the kitchen and meal-prep different foods each week, or challenge yourself to make new healthy recipes. Try different types of movement and workouts, and give yourself the opportunity to learn new hobbies. This may be a great opportunity to finally learn that language or take guitar lessons! Keep reading to learn why changing your daily routine is the best way to improve memory. Why Changing Your Routine Is So Great for Memory Stimulates Your Brain Changing up your routine requires you to keep your brain active, which in turn helps to exercise your brain. Trying new things and switching what you do (even something as simple as making a new recipe or learning a new skill) is associated with higher levels of cognitive ability throughout life. It's so powerful that challenging the brain with new activities early in life may help protect the brain against cognitive losses in old age. Rewires Your Brain If you're doing the same things over and over, you're not giving your body and your mind the opportunity to be challenged. Exercising your mind daily and giving it new opportunities to solve new problems helps to keep your brain stimulated and challenges neuroplasticity. This is the brain's ability to rewire itself on the cellular level, which may improve memory. You May Feel Happier Not only does varying your routine improve your cognitive health, but you'll also feel happy about it. Researchers in one study found that people tend to be happier when they depart from their daily routines and give themselves new places and new experiences to explore. Even the smallest changes in your physical routine may make you happier and benefit your brain. More Tips In addition to breaking up your routine, these healthy habits can also improve your memory: Get quality sleep: Given all of the ways getting a good night's sleep benefits your health, getting your zzz's may seem like a no-brainer. But high-quality sleep can do wonders for your cognition. For example, quality sleep helps regulate your circadian rhythms, balances hormones and improves decision-making, emotional interpretation and concentration. Eat more fruits and vegetables: Research finds that eating a diet rich in antioxidant-packed foods such as fruits and vegetables may help slow down memory decline and aging. Move your body: Yes, physical movement is just as important as diet and sleep when it comes to your cognitive health. Because getting a variety of exercise is good for cognition (like a mix of aerobic and resistance training), physical activity can be a great way to switch up your routine in your daily life, benefiting your brain in multiple aspects. Chew your food: This may seem a little silly, but it's true. Eating requires you to use your chewing muscles and actually functions as exercise for your head and, evidently, your brain. So while having that protein-packed smoothie is great, be sure to also incorporate opportunities to chew those fibrous fruits and vegetables and activate those muscles. Our Expert Take Even though daily habits, like eating a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help us stay healthy, getting stuck in the same routines isn't always helpful for cognitive health. Research finds that changing up your routine—even if it's as simple as trying new recipes or challenging yourself to do new workouts—results in a higher overall cognitive function. Diverse activities can help stimulate your brain and keep it active, and can even make you feel happier. So find ways throughout your day-to-day life to try new things and change up your usual routines. Your brain will thank you for it! Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Medscape
23-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Are Preschoolers in the US Meeting Healthy Behavior Goals?
TOPLINE: Only about 20% of preschoolers in the US followed five to six healthy habits, with clear differences by socioeconomic factors and geographic location. Children who lived in homes with enough food, had safe neighborhoods, had parents with excellent or very good mental health, and often ate meals with their families were more likely to have healthy behaviors. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from the 2021 and 2022 National Survey of Children's Health to assess factors related to healthy behavior among children aged 3-5 years in the US. A total of 23,123 children were included in the analysis, with data collected through parent or caregiver reports. Six healthy behaviors were examined: daily consumption of fruits, daily consumption of vegetables, no sugary drinks, frequent outdoor play, limited screen time, and adequate sleep. Logistic regression modeling was used to assess relationships between healthy behaviors and various characteristics of the child, family, and community. TAKEAWAY: The prevalence of healthy behaviors among preschoolers varied, with 32.4% not consuming sugary drinks and 65.3% consuming fruit daily. Only 20.3% of preschoolers engaged in five to six healthy behaviors. Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and Asian non-Hispanic children were less likely to engage in five to six healthy behaviors than White non-Hispanic children (adjusted prevalence rate ratio [aPRR], 0.38, 0.57, and 0.64, respectively; P < .05 for all). Children aged 3 years were more likely to engage in five to six healthy behaviors than those aged 5 years. Engagement in five to six healthy behaviors was more likely among children with parents with excellent or very good mental health (aPRR, 1.30), those living in safe neighborhoods (aPRR, 1.17), those living in homes with enough food (aPRR, 1.35), and those who ate meals with their families 4 or more days a week (aPRR, 1.70; P < .05 for all). State-level variations were substantial, with Vermont having the highest adjusted prevalence of preschoolers engaging in five to six healthy behaviors (36.2%) and Mississippi, the lowest (8.3%). IN PRACTICE: 'Study findings underscore the importance of the family context and the challenges families experience in supporting children's engagement in HBs [healthy behaviors], with fewer than half of preschoolers having no sugary beverages, limited screen time, or eating vegetables daily,' wrote the authors of the study. 'There are opportunities to promote healthy living among children across multiple domains of influence, including direct counseling, screening, and referral to community resources to meet basic needs, and supporting family-focused policies and programs,' they added. SOURCE: The study was led by Julie F. Donney, PhD, of the Office of Epidemiology and Research at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration in Rockville, Maryland. It was published online on July 14, 2025, in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. LIMITATIONS: The design of the study made it difficult to determine if healthy behaviors were caused by certain factors. The link between family or community factors and healthy behaviors may be affected by unmeasured variables such as parenting styles or seasonal changes. Different definitions of healthy behaviors were not examined. DISCLOSURES: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan report: Maharashtra fares better in all three grades but decline in student performance in higher classes a concern
With the release of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (National Survey) 2024 report, Maharashtra has performed better than the national average in all three grades — 3, 6, and 9. However, a more detailed analysis of the state's data reveals a concerning trend—a decline in student performance as they move from primary to secondary levels. The Performance Assessment Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development, commonly known as PARAKH, is the country's top assessment body. In December 2024, it conducted the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, replacing the earlier National Achievement Survey (NAS). The results are now available on the PARAKH dashboard. The objective of this assessment is to understand the baseline performance in developing competencies at the end of the foundational, preparatory, and middle stages in schools, at individual district levels. The data aims to guide focused interventions at the required stages to improve overall learning outcomes. Despite outperforming the national average across all three grades, Maharashtra has shown a decline in student achievement as they progress from primary to secondary classes. This downward trend is particularly evident in Language and Mathematics—the two subjects which are assessed across all three grades. In Mathematics, the state's average score dropped significantly — from 64 per cent in Grade 3, to 51 per cent in Grade 6, and further down to just 38 per cent in Grade 9. In Language, although the drop is less steep, a similar decline is visible — from 69 per cent in Grade 3, to 62 per cent in Grade 6, and 59 per cent in Grade 9. A senior official from State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) said, 'This decline in student performance as they move toward higher grades is not unique to Maharashtra. It is a nationwide trend and certainly calls for more focused and strategic interventions in secondary classes, as also recommended in the PARAKH report. State-level officials are currently analyzing the data, and a detailed action plan will soon be prepared.' The official also emphasized the need for localized strategies. 'While there will be state-level planning, a district-wise analysis will help ensure targeted interventions. Performance varies across districts, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not be effective. Local context must be considered,' the official said, urging education experts in the state to contribute their insights. The assessment covered 4,314 schools in Maharashtra, involving 123,659 students and 13,930 teachers. Among the districts, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, and Satara emerged as top performers across all three grades, whereas Gadchiroli consistently featured among the lowest-performing districts. In addition to Language and Mathematics, which are common across all three grades, students in Grade 6 are assessed in 'The World Around Us', while students in Grade 9 are assessed in Science and Social Science.
Wall Street Journal
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Overregulation Isn't What's Wrong With Pot
Advocates of marijuana legalization have long played fast and loose with numbers. Jeffrey Singer's letter 'The Blunt Truth About States Subsidizing Pot' (June 7) is a case in point. Consider, first, that Mr. Singer dismisses the National Survey on Drug Use and Health—a long-form survey of nearly 70,000 subjects for which participants are compensated—because it relies on 'voluntary self-reporting.' He evidently prefers a much smaller cohort study from Canada that also relies on voluntary self-reporting. Why? Presumably because it found results he prefers.
Washington Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Mothers report worse mental health in new report
More American mothers reported worse mental health in 2023 than in 2016 in a national survey, though many said they were in good health, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Using data from the National Survey of Children's Health, researchers analyzed self-reported mental health ratings from some 198,000 mothers with children age 17 and younger. In 2023, 26 percent of the mothers who responded said their mental health was 'excellent,' compared with 38 percent of mothers in 2016. While 19 percent of mothers reported good mental health in 2016, some 26 percent said the same in 2023.
