Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

Experts say the more we challenge our brains as we age, the more resilient it becomes—and “learning a new instrument is a full-brain workout.” After the age of 40, the average brain decreases 5 ...

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us? My fitness journey hasn’t been a rapid transformation—it’s been a decades-long ...