A Certain Synchronicity
SOMETHING WEIRD OCCURS when one of my family members is feeling unwell. I’ve noticed that a flatness descends over the house, as we all react in sympathy. So I was very keen to read the article by Lisa Kadane about empathetic pain (page 118). While my family’s sympathetic response doesn’t extend to experiencing the illness or pain of the family member, it seems that this potential does exist between some long-term couples. Their health actually falls into sync over time. Experts now think that a better ageing environment can be created by recognising these health similarities and working together on the commonalities with better exercise, diet and medication treatments. We also have a lunar quiz (‘The Moon Has Risen’, page 86), advice on how to stop grinding your teeth while you…