Infotrak

What if preventing cognitive decline was as simple as protecting your heart? Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., FACPM, First Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, shares his latest research, showing that cognitive decline isn't an inevitable part of aging. His studies demonstrate that the same lifestyle interventions protecting your heart—managing blood pressure, controlling diabetes, maintaining healthy weight, and staying physically and socially active—also safeguard your brain health.

What happens when a life-changing spiritual experience leaves you feeling more isolated than enlightened? Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the University of Virginia Health’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, reveals groundbreaking research on near-death experiences that challenges our assumptions about these profound events.

Career coach Laura Brown, co-author of “Interview Speak: What Your Interviewer Really Wants to Know,” reveals the shocking truth about today's job market: employers aren't just looking for qualified candidates—they're actively screening out those who seem desperate or disingenuous. She outlines the three critical elements new graduates must demonstrate and why most fail at proving they actually want the specific job they're applying for

Research overwhelmingly shows TikTok is addictive. Meredith E. David, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University study, found that approximately 25% of TikTok users qualify as addicted, where users lose track of how long they've been scrolling. She offers advice to get your screen time under control.

West Nile virus cases have been reported across 43 states in 2025—40% higher than normal—but only 15% of Americans are concerned about contracting the disease. Ken Winneg, managing director of survey research at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, explains symptoms and how best to use mosquito repellent to protect yourself.

Teens actually want to talk to their parents—-but timing is everything. In her eye-opening interviews with 85 boys aged 10-22, Joanna Schroeder, journalist, and co-author of “Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men,“ discovered that teens are most receptive to difficult conversations during evening hours when their circadian rhythms naturally align for deeper discussion.

Cybersecurity training programs are failing spectacularly—and putting lives at risk. Grant Ho, Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Chicago, says his research shows these initiatives barely reduce phishing risks at all. Whether employees completed training recently or months ago, their vulnerability to phishing attacks remained virtually identical.

Teens getting sex advice from Snapchat and Instagram might be setting themselves up for risky sexual behavior. Eric Anderman, Professor of Educational Psychology at Ohio State University, found that teens who turned to peer-interactive social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram for sexual information demonstrated higher intentions to have sex, weaker condom-negotiation skills, and reduced confidence in refusing unwanted sexual encounters.

Drivers who use their phones behind the wheel are 240% more likely to crash. Now, with over 50 million users now opting into smartphone-based driving behavior monitoring to get lower insurance rates, Ryan McMahon, Senior VP at Cambridge Mobile Telematics, would like government agencies to utilize the treasure trove of personal data collected by insurance companies to develop prevention strategies and fix problem intersections.

How you parent your teen can have more of an impact than you realize. Cullin Howard, doctoral candidate in the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences, shares the results of his study that examined how parenting styles directly impact teens' social confidence and anxiety.

Car insurance premiums have jumped by a nationwide average of 15% so far in 2025 alone. But your car insurance premiums don't have to break the bank. Consumer expert Herb Weisbaum explains why rates have been rising fast, and reveals insider strategies for slashing your costs.

After 120 years, mentorship isn't just nice to have—it's delivering a 7:1 social return on investment while transforming lives. Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, reveals why mentorship has never been more critical, and how you can get involved.

Making the transition from military service to civilian life is a major challenge. The armed forces offer assistance, but nearly half of military spouses don't even know reintegration programs exist in their communities. Leanne Knobloch, PhD, Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois, shares her research, and offers clear recommendations to improve the problem. ,

The biggest barrier facing blind people isn't their vision loss. Chris Danielsen from the National Federation of the Blind explains how his organization combats society's low expectations. He also addresses common misconceptions and offers advice for interacting with blind individuals.

Today’s teens who vape have a shocking 1-in-3 chance of eventually smoking cigarettes—a dramatic reversal of decades of tobacco control progress, as e-cigarettes are creating a dangerous new pathway to traditional smoking. Jessica Mongilio, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking, and Health in the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan, shares what policymakers must do to protect the next generation.

Paula Almgren, attorney specializing in estate planning, elder law and life care, author of “Eldercare the Rules: Navigating the Legal, Financial, Medical, Housing, and Care Maze,” breaks down the critical mistakes families make when planning for aging. She reveals why people avoid eldercare planning and shares a practical roadmap. She also explain why honest family conversations are crucial before crisis hits.

School connectedness could be the key to protecting bullied teens from depression, according to groundbreaking research that followed over 2,000 children from age 9 to 15. Nia Heard-Garris, MD, MBA, MSc, pediatrician and researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, explains how feeling engaged, included, and safe at school acts as a protective buffer against depression for bullied adolescents—though surprisingly, it doesn't help with anxiety.

Would your next financial advisor be powered by AI? Andrew W. Lo, PhD, Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, explores this fascinating frontier where artificial intelligence meets personal finance. While AI chatbots are revolutionizing access to financial planning, they're not quite ready to fly solo – he likens them to very bright teaching assistants at universities who are occasionally stoned and offer wrong answers.

A groundbreaking smartphone app is transforming suicide prevention, offering hope to those at their most vulnerable. Michael Allen, MD, Professor of Psychiatry-Adult Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado, explains how digital therapy is becoming a game-changer in mental health support, particularly during the critical period following hospital discharge.

Dafna Krouk-Gordon, President and Founder of Toward Independent Living and Learning, co-author of "Moving Out," shares vital insights on planning residential arrangements for adults with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of starting this process during adolescence, when families should educate themselves about available options, like group homes or shared living situations.