Dr. Dominic Ng
@dominicng.bsky.social
Neurology trainee | PhD candidate decoding the brain | Academic writer distilling complex neuroscience into concise, peer-reviewed insights
New study shows that a one-hour walk in the forest led to measurable changes in the brain’s stress centre.
November 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
New study shows that a one-hour walk in the forest led to measurable changes in the brain’s stress centre.
Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee daily may slow biological aging in people with mental illness by ~5 years, based on new research from @BMJMentalHealth
But the effect disappears above 4 cups.
But the effect disappears above 4 cups.
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee daily may slow biological aging in people with mental illness by ~5 years, based on new research from @BMJMentalHealth
But the effect disappears above 4 cups.
But the effect disappears above 4 cups.
Fluoride in drinking water does not negatively affect cognitive ability - and may actually provide benefit.
November 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Fluoride in drinking water does not negatively affect cognitive ability - and may actually provide benefit.
A 40-year study found that staying active in midlife and beyond is linked to 40% lower dementia risk.
The simplest thing you can do for your brain is take a walk.
The simplest thing you can do for your brain is take a walk.
November 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A 40-year study found that staying active in midlife and beyond is linked to 40% lower dementia risk.
The simplest thing you can do for your brain is take a walk.
The simplest thing you can do for your brain is take a walk.
New Nature study on the "Batman effect": When a pregnant woman boarded Milan trains alone, 38% offered seats. But when Batman boarded the same train, that jumped to 67%.
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
New Nature study on the "Batman effect": When a pregnant woman boarded Milan trains alone, 38% offered seats. But when Batman boarded the same train, that jumped to 67%.
Handwritten notes beat typing for academic performance - even though typing produces MORE notes, according to a meta-analysis of 3000 students.
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Handwritten notes beat typing for academic performance - even though typing produces MORE notes, according to a meta-analysis of 3000 students.
Friendship might have a smell.
A 2022 study found people with similar body odours were far more likely to instantly “click” as friends – an electronic nose even predicted positive stranger pairings with ~71% accuracy.
A 2022 study found people with similar body odours were far more likely to instantly “click” as friends – an electronic nose even predicted positive stranger pairings with ~71% accuracy.
November 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Friendship might have a smell.
A 2022 study found people with similar body odours were far more likely to instantly “click” as friends – an electronic nose even predicted positive stranger pairings with ~71% accuracy.
A 2022 study found people with similar body odours were far more likely to instantly “click” as friends – an electronic nose even predicted positive stranger pairings with ~71% accuracy.
A new study finds testosterone is linked to men acting on conviction, not audience.
Men got testosterone or placebo and chose between getting money or giving it to charity.
Placebo men became more generous when watched while men on testosterone didn't.
Men got testosterone or placebo and chose between getting money or giving it to charity.
Placebo men became more generous when watched while men on testosterone didn't.
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A new study finds testosterone is linked to men acting on conviction, not audience.
Men got testosterone or placebo and chose between getting money or giving it to charity.
Placebo men became more generous when watched while men on testosterone didn't.
Men got testosterone or placebo and chose between getting money or giving it to charity.
Placebo men became more generous when watched while men on testosterone didn't.
Oxytocin receptors act as friendship accelerators. Prairie voles lacking them need double the time to bond.
Warmth + time = connection. Keep showing up, even in small ways.
Warmth + time = connection. Keep showing up, even in small ways.
November 19, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Oxytocin receptors act as friendship accelerators. Prairie voles lacking them need double the time to bond.
Warmth + time = connection. Keep showing up, even in small ways.
Warmth + time = connection. Keep showing up, even in small ways.
Pets completely protect against mental decline from living alone.
9-year study of 7,945 older adults: People living alone with pets kept their mental sharpness just as well as those living with family.
Your dog or cat might be saving your brain.
9-year study of 7,945 older adults: People living alone with pets kept their mental sharpness just as well as those living with family.
Your dog or cat might be saving your brain.
November 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Pets completely protect against mental decline from living alone.
9-year study of 7,945 older adults: People living alone with pets kept their mental sharpness just as well as those living with family.
Your dog or cat might be saving your brain.
9-year study of 7,945 older adults: People living alone with pets kept their mental sharpness just as well as those living with family.
Your dog or cat might be saving your brain.
A single 25g dose of creatine boosts cognitive performance during sleep deprivation within 4 hours:
- Language processing speed +29%
- Numeric processing speed +24%
- Logic processing speed +16%
- Word memory +10%
Brain scans confirmed increased cerebral creatine uptake.
- Language processing speed +29%
- Numeric processing speed +24%
- Logic processing speed +16%
- Word memory +10%
Brain scans confirmed increased cerebral creatine uptake.
November 17, 2025 at 1:57 PM
A single 25g dose of creatine boosts cognitive performance during sleep deprivation within 4 hours:
- Language processing speed +29%
- Numeric processing speed +24%
- Logic processing speed +16%
- Word memory +10%
Brain scans confirmed increased cerebral creatine uptake.
- Language processing speed +29%
- Numeric processing speed +24%
- Logic processing speed +16%
- Word memory +10%
Brain scans confirmed increased cerebral creatine uptake.
Evening exercise reduces mortality risk by 61% in adults with obesity.
Morning exercise only reduces it by 33%.
Morning exercise only reduces it by 33%.
November 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Evening exercise reduces mortality risk by 61% in adults with obesity.
Morning exercise only reduces it by 33%.
Morning exercise only reduces it by 33%.
3. Sleep 7-9 Hours Nightly
Study tracking 30,000 adults found 7-hour sleepers maintained stable cognition, while those under 4 or over 10 hours declined faster.
Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories and clears metabolic waste.
Study tracking 30,000 adults found 7-hour sleepers maintained stable cognition, while those under 4 or over 10 hours declined faster.
Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories and clears metabolic waste.
November 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
3. Sleep 7-9 Hours Nightly
Study tracking 30,000 adults found 7-hour sleepers maintained stable cognition, while those under 4 or over 10 hours declined faster.
Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories and clears metabolic waste.
Study tracking 30,000 adults found 7-hour sleepers maintained stable cognition, while those under 4 or over 10 hours declined faster.
Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories and clears metabolic waste.
Google mapped ONE millimeter of brain tissue - revealing 57,000 cells and 150 million synapses.
Every one of those connections can strengthen, weaken, or rebuild based on your daily choices.
Here are 6 evidence-based ways to reshape your brain through neuroplasticity:
Every one of those connections can strengthen, weaken, or rebuild based on your daily choices.
Here are 6 evidence-based ways to reshape your brain through neuroplasticity:
November 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Google mapped ONE millimeter of brain tissue - revealing 57,000 cells and 150 million synapses.
Every one of those connections can strengthen, weaken, or rebuild based on your daily choices.
Here are 6 evidence-based ways to reshape your brain through neuroplasticity:
Every one of those connections can strengthen, weaken, or rebuild based on your daily choices.
Here are 6 evidence-based ways to reshape your brain through neuroplasticity:
A 15-year study of 1,688 adults found that people using saunas 4-7 times per week had a 77% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to once-weekly users.
October 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
A 15-year study of 1,688 adults found that people using saunas 4-7 times per week had a 77% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to once-weekly users.
Caffeine can increase how long people persist in trying to complete difficult tasks when stressed.
Coffee may help you power through when times get tough.
Coffee may help you power through when times get tough.
September 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Caffeine can increase how long people persist in trying to complete difficult tasks when stressed.
Coffee may help you power through when times get tough.
Coffee may help you power through when times get tough.
Researchers @TheLancet identified 12 lifestyle choices that impact your dementia risk.
Here what to do to reduce your risk: 👇
1. Protect your ears
Mild hearing loss doubles risk of dementia
Here what to do to reduce your risk: 👇
1. Protect your ears
Mild hearing loss doubles risk of dementia
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Researchers @TheLancet identified 12 lifestyle choices that impact your dementia risk.
Here what to do to reduce your risk: 👇
1. Protect your ears
Mild hearing loss doubles risk of dementia
Here what to do to reduce your risk: 👇
1. Protect your ears
Mild hearing loss doubles risk of dementia
Light exposure predicts mental health in a study of 85,000 people.
1. More daylight → ↓ depression, anxiety, PTSD
2. More light at night → ↑ 30% risk for depression
1. More daylight → ↓ depression, anxiety, PTSD
2. More light at night → ↑ 30% risk for depression
September 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Light exposure predicts mental health in a study of 85,000 people.
1. More daylight → ↓ depression, anxiety, PTSD
2. More light at night → ↑ 30% risk for depression
1. More daylight → ↓ depression, anxiety, PTSD
2. More light at night → ↑ 30% risk for depression
Study finds that L-theanine (found in tea) combined with caffeine improves reaction time, accuracy, and alertness more than caffeine alone.
Tea may beat coffee for cognitive performance.
Tea may beat coffee for cognitive performance.
September 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Study finds that L-theanine (found in tea) combined with caffeine improves reaction time, accuracy, and alertness more than caffeine alone.
Tea may beat coffee for cognitive performance.
Tea may beat coffee for cognitive performance.
Elite athletes turned off devices 30 min before bed + used morning bright light for 2 weeks.
Result: Better jumps, faster reactions - but sleep stayed the same. Light timing may matter more than you think.
Result: Better jumps, faster reactions - but sleep stayed the same. Light timing may matter more than you think.
September 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Elite athletes turned off devices 30 min before bed + used morning bright light for 2 weeks.
Result: Better jumps, faster reactions - but sleep stayed the same. Light timing may matter more than you think.
Result: Better jumps, faster reactions - but sleep stayed the same. Light timing may matter more than you think.
Meditation practitioners showed cortical thickening in sensory, cognitive, and emotional processing regions—evidence of adult neuroplasticity through mental training.
Neuroplasticity doesn't expire with youth.
Neuroplasticity doesn't expire with youth.
September 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Meditation practitioners showed cortical thickening in sensory, cognitive, and emotional processing regions—evidence of adult neuroplasticity through mental training.
Neuroplasticity doesn't expire with youth.
Neuroplasticity doesn't expire with youth.
Cataract surgery linked with a 29% lower dementia risk in a study of 3038 adults.
Treating vision loss through cataract removal could be a dementia prevention strategy.
Treating vision loss through cataract removal could be a dementia prevention strategy.
September 15, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Cataract surgery linked with a 29% lower dementia risk in a study of 3038 adults.
Treating vision loss through cataract removal could be a dementia prevention strategy.
Treating vision loss through cataract removal could be a dementia prevention strategy.
Study finds >7g/day of olive oil (about ½ Tbsp) associated with 28% lower dementia-related mortality, regardless of overall diet quality.
Consider replacing butter or vegetable oil with olive oil when cooking.
Consider replacing butter or vegetable oil with olive oil when cooking.
September 14, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Study finds >7g/day of olive oil (about ½ Tbsp) associated with 28% lower dementia-related mortality, regardless of overall diet quality.
Consider replacing butter or vegetable oil with olive oil when cooking.
Consider replacing butter or vegetable oil with olive oil when cooking.
Combining aerobic + resistance exercise is linked with 32% improved cognitive function in a new meta-analysis of 35 studies.
Don't skip weights. Don't skip cardio. Try to do both.
Don't skip weights. Don't skip cardio. Try to do both.
September 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Combining aerobic + resistance exercise is linked with 32% improved cognitive function in a new meta-analysis of 35 studies.
Don't skip weights. Don't skip cardio. Try to do both.
Don't skip weights. Don't skip cardio. Try to do both.
Long-term meditators' DNA maintains protective structures lost with stress and aging.
September 12, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Long-term meditators' DNA maintains protective structures lost with stress and aging.