Try This – 3 Big Shares for the Week

Happy New Year! 

This week, I’m sharing some really meaningful things I’m thinking about as we head into the new year. 

Today, high level:

1. THIS predicts how fast your brain ages. 

2. Do you have a spouse or partner? Have these difficult conversations with them as we head into the new year. 

3. “If I Had to Live My Life Over” – advice from an 85-year-old patient. 

Let’s get into it.

Number 1: This Protects Your Brain (and Most Don’t Prioritize It)

People don’t take their relationships seriously, and unfortunately, it’s costing us our brain health.

A huge new study found that social isolation itself (not just feeling lonely) directly speeds up cognitive decline.

Researchers analyzed more than 137,000 cognitive tests from over 30,000 adults tracked for 14 years and found a consistent pattern: people who had fewer real‑world social contacts showed faster declines in thinking, memory, and overall cognitive function compared with those who were more socially engaged. This effect held true across gender, race, ethnicity, and education levels, suggesting that social connection is universally important for brain health.

What makes this study stand out is that it disentangles objective isolation (actual lack of social interactions) from subjective loneliness (how lonely you feel). It turns out that isolation itself has a measurable impact on how quickly cognition declines, beyond just the emotional experience of loneliness. 

Try This readers, I know that you value your brain health and are looking to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s time to take your social life seriously. Cultivate and build community. It doesn’t have to look perfect. Face-to-face time with friends, neighbors, family, community, and gym buddies will 100 percent support your brain health. 

Go outside, say hello!

Number 2: 10 Questions to Ask Your Partner This Year

My wife and I always make time for reflection and planning before the calendar changes. We talk about our year ahead, plan trips and things to look forward to, do financial planning, and also ask each other meaningful questions about our relationship and each other. 

I came across this amazing thread on X that shares 10 difficult but necessary conversations you need to have with your partner before the new year. And it’s not too late—make time for these questions now.

Here are some of my favorite questions from the thread: 

1. The Happiness Conversation: On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are both of you with and in your relationship? It’s not just about knowing the score; take a step further and ask what the missing points consist of and what would increase the score to a 10 (if it isn’t already)? The answers to these questions will help you know exactly where to begin working on improving your relationship.
   

2. The Unresolved Conversation: “Are there things I do that make you unhappy but you haven’t really spoken to me about?” “Is there something we haven’t properly addressed that has continued to affect the way you feel about us?” Asking questions like these is a good way to get deep into issues that have been swept under the carpet and attempt peaceful resolution before resentment builds or worsens.

3. The Support Conversation: “How supported do you feel by me?” “In your opinion, would you say you’re giving me as much support as you could?” “What does support look like for both of us, and how can we give more of it to each other moving forward?” The basis of every successful relationship is partnership, and partnership equals support. If ample support is missing, rest assured, disappointment is brewing.

I know these conversations might seem uncomfortable, but it’s quite beautiful what can come from going this deep with your partner.

Number 3: “If I Had My Life to Live Over” - Thoughts from an 85-Year-Old Patient

I’ve been seeing this letter from an 85-year-old patient go viral lately, and for good reason. It’s a bittersweet reflection at the end of life. I hope you pause to read it.

Biggest takeaways: The regrets of the dying don’t include spending more time on their phones, less time outdoors, less time with their loved ones, and more time making money. Instead, the dying encourage us to spend more time in nature, take more risks, spend time on things we love, be less serious, and dance way more. Amen to that. 

Wishing you a very happy 2026, 


Dhru Purohit 

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice; please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.