February 2026 – Maintain Your Brain Community Newsletter

A monthly newsletter from Sharp Again

_________________________________________________________________

Breaking News

The New U.S. Food Pyramid

In early January, the Food and Drug Administration released a new version of the iconic Food Pyramid, meant to replace the My Plate that came out ten years ago. Reactions to the new pyramid have been mixed, with most saying that the new recommended guidelines are confusing and contradictory. The most agreement was on the emphasis placed on the reduction in sugar and ultra-processed foods.

What does the new pyramid mean to you and how you eat?  This excellent article helps put the new guidelines into perspective.

_________________________________________________________________

In the News

The Rise of Digital Memory Aid Tech: Does It Really Help?

In an era where smartphones can remind us of nearly everything — such as appointments, birthdays, and grocery lists — using technology to enhance memory and our overall productivity seems intuitive.

But as digital memory aids, like AI-driven reminder apps and productivity trackers, become more sophisticated and more widely adopted, a key question remains: Do they actually help improve memory, or are they just a crutch, and could they harm our brains and overall well-being?

_________________________________________________________________

Sleep Deprivation:
New Insights about The Brain’s Hidden Cleaning Crisis

A groundbreaking 2025 MIT study has uncovered something both unsettling and illuminating: after just one night of poor sleep, the brain begins cleaning itself during wakefulness, and each time it does, attention and focus momentarily collapse. Deprived of deep-sleep maintenance, the brain forces “micro cleaning cycles” throughout the day, slipping into brief sleep-like states to compensate, and each time it does, your attention temporarily collapses.

_________________________________________________________________

New Study on the Shingles Vaccine

For those living with dementia, a new study suggests shingles vaccine could slow the disease.

An unusual public health policy in Wales may have produced the strongest evidence yet that a vaccine can reduce the risk of dementia. The remarkable findings support an emerging theory that viruses that affect the nervous system can increase the risk of dementia. If further confirmed, the new findings suggest that a preventive intervention for dementia is already close at hand.

_________________________________________________________________

Featured Video

How to actually keep those new habits going!

In this video, Your Integrative Physician Tanmeet Seethi, MD, discusses the neuroscience of habit change, and explores ways to keep your new habits going (hint: willpower had nothing to do with it). 15 minutes.

_________________________________________________________________

Recipe of the Month

One-pan Chicken Florentine

This recipe calls for ⅓ cup of heavy cream, which can be replaced with thickened plant milk if you wish, to cut down on the fat. Combine ⅓ cup of plant milk (soy works best) with 2 ½ teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes to thicken.

Click here for the recipe.

_________________________________________________________________

To subscribe to Sharp Again’s email list, click here!

Join our email list

Receive information about new research, how to maintain a healthy brain, and events that help you live life with a sharper mind!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.