Two of today's findings meet at the same clinic question. When you counsel an older patient on staying healthy, do not stop at 'keep active and eat well'. Ask what kind of activity — steer them toward leisure-time exercise they will actually do, not reassurance that a hard job counts — and, if they are eating less meat, ask specifically about protein and muscle. A patient cutting animal protein without a plan is losing muscle they cannot spare; a patient told their manual job protects their brain is being misinformed. Both are fixed by two specific questions.
- Ask what kind of activity, and recommend chosen leisure exercise
- Do not imply a physically demanding job is brain-protective
- In anyone reducing meat, ask about protein intake and muscle
- Suggest resistance training alongside a plant-based diet in older age
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