A couple of weeks ago, I read a post on social media featuring a word-search puzzle suggesting that the first three terms I found should direct my 2023 New Year's resolutions. Within a millisecond I landed on “self-care,” which made me smile. Several close friends had already recommended this, so I suspected it must carry some truth. Admittedly, the last few months have been more onerous than usual, with challenges steadily disrupting my Zen. I know that for many of you, adversity is a part of daily living. Having a chronic neurologic condition, or caring for someone who does, is often taxing and can be draining over time.

In this February/March issue we bring you some science and wisdom—from neurology experts and insightful readers alike—to help you focus on your own self-care. In our cover story, actor Rita Moreno reveals the work she has done over the years to protect and sustain her mental health, and how now at the age of 91, she continues to engage in activities that promote wellness of body and mind. The feature also examines the relationship between stress and cognition and provides some suggestions that we hope you can apply.

One of the ways I—like many people—know I'm on overload is that the quality of my sleep deteriorates. Between 30 and 40 percent of adults in the United States report symptoms of insomnia every year. Women may have as much as a 40 percent higher lifetime risk of insomnia than men. Several years ago, it was discovered that the glymphatic system—which filters waste from the central nervous system—does its important work during sleep. Moreover, it is theorized that a causal relationship exists between sleep disturbance and the symptomatic progression of dementias, highlighting the importance of sleep beyond avoiding daytime fatigue. In our story “What Researchers Are Learning About Brain Health by Studying Sleep,” we describe some of the short- and long-term effects of getting insufficient rest at night, detail a few additional disorders that can affect sleep, and provide some tips that may help you achieve a solid night of slumber.

A poor diet also may increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as our Healthy Living story on eating ultra-processed foods explains. While it may be faster to slap some deli meat on white bread and reach for a can of soda when you are a busy caregiver, ultra-processed foods like those can also contribute to a host of health hazards, including obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Caring for yourself means finding and keeping healthy substitutes on hand. Some suggestions for those swaps are included to help steer you in the right direction.

Our Healthy Living profile features Marcia Stanley, a former competitive swimmer who is now 70 and living with Parkinson's disease. She continues to swim laps and do water exercises, which keeps her spirits up. In the Pictures of You interview, artist Lindsey Holcomb, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) five years ago, says painting the MRI scans of people with MS is cathartic. Finally, John M. Espy has written a moving Speak Up column about appreciating his wife, Pam. A brain bleed took away some of her abilities, but her character remains intact. These three individuals all practice self-care in different ways.

I hope you will join me in finding ways, small and large, to follow their lead and devote a little piece of your day to your well-being. American poet Audre Lorde is quoted as saying, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” If you would like to share your own experience, we'd love to hear from you in the coming weeks. Email us at BrainandLife@wolterskluwer.com.

Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief