What do alcohol, sleep, diet and “purpose in life” have in common?

According to a powerful new study, they’re all modifiable risk factors that may determine your future risk of stroke, dementia and late-life depression — three of the most pressing health challenges of our time.

In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer breaks down this comprehensive review, which analyzed data from over 180 meta-analyses and ranked risk factors based on their impact on healthy aging and brain health. The findings go far beyond just cholesterol or glucose — and include often overlooked lifestyle and psychological factors like social engagement and chronic stress.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1) Which modifiable factors have the greatest impact on dementia, stroke and depression

2) Why physical and psychological health are deeply intertwined

3) How “purpose in life” scored higher than some traditional clinical markers

4) What these findings mean for real-world prevention — and your everyday choices

Whether you’re supporting a loved one or simply planning for your own long-term health, this episode offers evidence-backed clarity on what actually matters most.

Want to read the study yourself? Here's the link & PMID reference:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40180437/

PMID: 40180437

If you'd like to go deeper into these topics, you can learn more on emeranmayer.com!