Good Morning! 🌞

Yesterday, one of our readers, Linda, pointed out that our daily mind stretcher competition tends to favor those who respond early. It seems she's referring to you, Chris and Albert 😄.

While we have no intention of discontinuing the daily challenge of who can provide the correct answer first, we're excited to announce the start of a weekly competition from today. The individual who accumulates the most correct answers over the week will be recognized with a shout out!

Additionally, we're in the process of organizing a larger competition, with actual prizes for the winners. Stay tuned for that!

Innovation

Multivitamins Every Day Can Stop Cognitive Decline!

Taking a daily multivitamin can boost memory and slow cognitive aging by two years, according to researchers.

The study, analyzing data from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) with 5,000 participants and additional cognitive assessments on 573 participants over two years, found that those taking the multivitamin showed better global cognition and episodic memory than the placebo group.

Chirag Vyas, the study's first author, highlighted the strong evidence from the meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies, suggesting that a daily multivitamin with over 20 essential micronutrients can help prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging.

Cognitive decline is a significant concern for older adults, and Vyas proposed a daily multivitamin as a practical strategy to address cognitive aging. Olivia Okereke, the senior author of the study, noted the findings would grab the attention of older adults looking for ways to preserve brain health.

Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study emphasizes that this is the third COSMOS experiment supporting the positive effects of daily multivitamins on cognitive health. With the expected rise in cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease among aging adults, the findings suggest multivitamins as a promising, accessible, and cost-effective approach to safeguard cognitive health. Dr. JoAnn Manson, the leader of the COSMOS trial, expressed enthusiasm, reinforcing the potential of multivitamins as a preventive measure for cognitive health in older adults.

Culture

A 43-Year Waitlist for Beef Croquettes

Asahiya, a family-run butcher shop in Takasago City, Japan, has a unique offering that comes with a jaw-dropping 43-year waitlist. Originally founded in 1926, the shop added beef croquettes to its lineup in the early 2000s, and they became an internet sensation, resulting in the extensive wait time.

In a 2022 interview with CNN Travel, Shigeru Nitta, the third-generation owner, revealed the backstory. The shop's "Extreme Croquettes," priced at JPY270 ($1.80) per piece despite costing JPY400 ($2.70) to produce, gained popularity due to their affordable price and high-quality ingredients, including three-year-old A5-ranked Kobe beef and locally sourced potatoes.

Initially produced in limited quantities to minimize financial risk, the croquettes gained immense popularity in the early 2000s. The shop temporarily halted sales in 2016 due to a 14-year wait time but resumed in 2017 with a price increase to JPY500 ($3.40)-JPY540 ($3.65).

Despite the challenges, Nitta maintains a commitment to quality, producing 200 croquettes a day and sending regular updates to the 63,000 customers currently in line. The unique marketing strategy pays off, with about half of croquette customers eventually ordering Asahiya's Kobe beef.

Nitta's dedication goes beyond profit; he sees the croquettes as a means to introduce more people to Kobe beef, promoting the local industry.
As customers patiently wait for their orders, the enduring popularity of Asahiya's Extreme Croquettes continues to contribute to the legacy of this family-run establishment.

World News

Japan's Princess Aiko Set to Work at Red Cross

Japan's Emperor Naruhito's only child, Princess Aiko, will join the Japanese Red Cross Society in April upon completing her university studies. While her specific role remains unclear, the 22-year-old princess will continue official duties within the imperial family.
Princess Aiko, despite her interest in the Red Cross, is not in the line of succession due to Japan's male-only ascension law. With the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, Japan maintains strong ties between the imperial family and the Red Cross.
Princess Aiko's upcoming role follows a family visit to the community and her expressed sympathies to recent disaster victims.

The princess is generally well regarded by the Japanese public, many of whom have welcomed her new role. Currently, she is in her final year at Gakushuin University, majoring in Japanese language and literature.

Environment

Endangered Australian Woylies Makes a Comeback

A critically endangered Australian marsupial, the woylie, is experiencing a significant resurgence in sightings due to a conservation program by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions of Western Australia.

In a forest landscape south of Perth, 34 woylies were trapped and tagged with GPS tracking anklets this year, compared to just 2 in 2019. The woylies, essential ecosystem engineers, face threats from feral foxes and cats, prompting wildlife management efforts.

The program has also benefited other endangered species, such as the Western quoll, highlighting promising results in the face of challenges to biodiversity.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?

Answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Because it's in the middle of "water"

Albert Knox got this answer correct first with the answer “They're both in the middle of water”.

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.