Plastics first emerged in the early 20th century as a revolutionary material, prized for being lightweight, durable, and versatile. The earliest fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 and quickly found use in electrical components and consumer goods. World War II accelerated plastic innovation, as the material replaced scarce resources like rubber, silk, and metals. After the war, plastic production exploded, fueling a consumer culture of convenience — from f

Introduction: One of the most common questions I hear from patients (and at dinner parties) is: What are the best ways to keep our brains healthy as we age, prevent cognitive decline and avoid dementia? Fortunately, there are some well-established ways to promote brain health and some newer studies that point to intriguing ways to build on these core strategies. Because tons of new data are being released all the time, I've decided to update this post with the latest informat

As I sit here on the coldest day of the season so far and reflect on many of the people I know who struggle with winter’s impact, I happened to come across this article in the New York Times about thriving this time of year . After taking my dog for a walk and enjoying a bit of friluftsliv (more on that below), I am now sitting in front of a sunny window enjoying a warm cup of coffee and a bit of hygge (more on that below as well) to write about the scientific evidence and wi

Even though the book Anxiety Rx  by Dr. Russell Kennedy was first published several years ago, the second edition was released in late 2024 and given how much this book has changed my practice and changed my life personally, I decided to name it my book of the year for 2025. Anxiety Rx is a unique and insightful exploration of the root causes of anxiety and offers a new, holistic approach to treating it. Dr. Kennedy, a physician who has personally experienced life-long anxiet

Friends, family and patients know that I am a big fan of books that explore the human experience and offer ways to improve our lives. Some of these could be categorized as “self-help” and some don’t necessarily fit that genre but still offer helpful knowledge and wisdom. I hope to use this space to share titles that I have found particularly enlightening or helpful, with the focus on those that have the potential for greatest impact. When thinking of which book I would start