Rinse and repeat

The Brief

Welcome back, Wellworthy readers.

If brain health is a priority, you’re probably tracking sleep, exercising regularly, and maybe experimenting with supplements.

But flossing probably isn’t part of the strategy.

This week, we’re looking at new data connecting oral health to cognitive decline—and what it means for protecting your brain long term.

Here’s what’s inside:

• The surprising link between oral health and Alzheimer’s

• The government rolled out a drug platform with GLP-1 discounts

• PLUS: A family health hub, at-home fitness makes a comeback, and a new creatine protein bar

Here we go!

— Jake, Joana & Ash

The Breakdown

Poor oral health is now being linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.

A massive study of over 30 million adults found people with poor gum disease had more than double the risk of developing Alzheimer's compared to those with healthy mouths. 

New CDC data tells a similar story: adults who had lost six or more teeth had nearly double the rate of cognitive decline. On the flipside, middle-aged adults who visited a dentist at least once a year had a 23% lower rate of decline.

Why it matters

Chronic gum disease triggers an inflammatory response that doesn't stay in your mouth. It becomes a systemic issue that can damage the brain.

“Oral bacteria enter the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier,” says Dr. Jonathan Levine, prosthodontist and founder of Smile House. "Today, there are 57 diseases that have a link to chronic inflammation of the mouth.” 

What you can do

• Start now, not later. According to Dr. Levine, 70% of American adults have some form of gum disease. “We cannot start early enough to develop a healthy oral regimen twice a day," he adds.

• Brush twice daily for two full minutes. And floss, because gum disease starts between teeth.

• Don't skip the dentist. The CDC data showed regular dental visits were linked to measurably lower cognitive decline rates, especially in middle age.

The takeaway

Here’s the encouraging part: gum disease is something you can control.

Unlike age or genetics, it’s a modifiable risk factor, which means your daily oral care routine may be one of the simplest, most overlooked ways to protect your brain long term.

And it takes less than five minutes.

Just Dropped

New products and drops spotted → 

Wellness tech & longevity

Fitbit co-founders launched Luffu, a shared health app for your whole household. Log meds, vitals, lab results, and symptoms for partners, kids, aging parents, even pets. AI flags what needs attention before you have to. Join the waitlist.

Muse rolled out Deep Sleep Boost, a new feature for its Muse S Athena headband that targets slow-wave sleep in real time. Instead of just telling you how you slept, it listens to your brain overnight and delivers precisely timed pink noise to reinforce deep sleep without waking you. See how it works.

Unbound opened in London’s Shoreditch with a new take on preventive health. Members move through bloodwork and movement testing, then get a doctor-led plan they can actually use, plus access to sauna, ice baths, breathwork, and a run club. Their philosophy: add meaning to metrics. Explore Unbound.

Cervco introduced an at-home gut test focused on brain health. Instead of giving you a sprawling microbiome report, it zeroes in on four bacteria linked to memory and mental clarity, then turns that data into a personalized score. You’ll then get a lifestyle breakdown and practical next steps. A sharper take on the gut-brain trend. Learn more.

Supplements & nutrition

UK startup Hustle put a full daily creatine dose inside a plant-based protein bar. 18g protein, 5g creatine monohydrate, vegan, and available in Salted Caramel and Chocolate Raspberry. With research linking creatine to everything from muscle to focus to brain fog, it’s a supplement we’re all paying attention to. Try them.

O Positiv launched PREGGO Prenatal + Probiotic, their first prenatal. It covers prenatal essentials like methylfolate and choline, and adds ginger and vitamin B6 for nausea. While most prenatals stop at fetal development, this one accounts for what pregnancy actually feels like day-to-day. Get it here.

Drink Hippie entered the functional drink chat with Hippie Energy, made with 75mg caffeine from Arabica beans, functional mushrooms, L-theanine, electrolytes, and prebiotic fiber. No added sugar and built for a steady kind of lift. Shop Hippie Energy.

Fitness & training

BODi relaunched P90X Generation Next, the fitness program that put intense exercise right into your living room. This time, workouts run 30-45 minutes, and two out of seven are dedicated to recovery.  Same 90-day commitment, less grind-till-you-break energy. Sign up.

Hyperice and Nike ACG made a custom Normatec Elite in ACG orange exclusively for Nike athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Built for recovery between flights, altitude shifts, and back-to-back events. Who else is watching Chloe Kim go for halfpipe gold today? See the collab.

On Our Radar 

What's moving in wellness this week → 

TrumpRx launches with GLP-1 discounts. The federal government rolled out a platform that gives Americans an opportunity to access lower prices on common prescription drugs. It lists options like oral Wegovy at $149 a month versus a $1,349 list price, with similar cuts on Ozempic and Zepbound. Though it won’t replace insurance and doesn’t count toward deductibles, consumers may now start comparison-shopping weight loss drugs.

Leaf protein just hit the smoothie counter. Bay Area chain Palmetto Superfoods added Rubisco protein, extracted from green alfalfa leaves, to its new Blade Smoothie. The brand says each serving contains the equivalent of 50,000 leaves, with a full amino acid profile and faster digestion than typical plant proteins. After peas and soy, the next protein frontier might be the actual leaf.

Boy kibble > girl dinner? TikTok’s latest trend shows college-aged men eating the same protein-heavy meals on repeat, usually rice with chicken or beef and maybe a side of veggies, lightly seasoned or sauced. It’s not exactly aesthetic, the dog food comparisons are part of the joke, but it reflects how performance-based eating is becoming normal for younger generations.