In Brief

By Lisa McLaughlin

HEART-HEALTHY EATING It used to be that heart disease was something to worry about late in life, but recent studies have shown that atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries that leads to heart attacks and strokes, can begin in children as young as 10. Some children are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol levels, but for most it's a matter of diet. Kids who eat an ample amount of fruits, vegetables and nuts rich in vitamins A, C and E have the healthiest cholesterol levels.

WHERE TO RETIRE At the standard retirement age of 65, many baby boomers will have another three decades of active living ahead of them. With that in mind, Modern Maturity magazine has come up with a list of the "50 Most Alive Places to Live." The magazine rated cities and towns on safety, affordability, ease of navigation, cultural diversity, quality of restaurants and opportunities for lifelong learning. Seattle made the list as best city in which to have a heart attack: more than half of its civic-minded citizens know CPR.

LIVING IN SIN Once rare, cohabitation is becoming the norm. The proportion of married couples who first lived together rose from about 10% in 1960 to more than 50% in 1998. And 33% of American households are composed of two unmarried adults with no children, making this the most common type of "family." But not everyplace is encouraging this arrangement. Anti-cohabitation laws remain on the books in several states, including Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, where unmarried roommates were recently arrested.

--By Lisa McLaughlin