Dr. Wendy Suzuki

evidence is around the benefit of the Mediterranean diet, which is basically all healthy, kind of organic, not organic, but non-processed is the word I was trying to think of, things to eat that are very, very colorful.

There is so much evidence about how good that is generally for the brain that that is my go-to.

What should I eat?

Well, is it on the Mediterranean diet?

If it is, then go ahead.

If it's too processed, only do it just a little bit.

Yes, we are social creatures.

And

There are really powerful studies that have shown the correlation between the number of social connections that we have, including just saying hello to the barista at Starbucks.

It's not a close friendship that you develop over 30 years.

It's just how many people you interact with and greet and longevity.

The more people you are regularly interacting with, the longer you are living.

Overall longevity.

But if you go into brain health, absolutely.

It's also very, very healthy for you.

It also brings happiness.

So a friend and colleague of mine, Robert Wallinger, studied what makes people happy.

The study started in the 20s, 1920s in Harvard.

And after all of those many, many, many decades,

The answer is what brings happiness is the strength of your social connections.