Good Morning! 🌞 

Figure skating has to be one of the most impressive sports ever created. Every time I see a skater jumping and spinning across the ice I can hardly believe it.

Here is one of the many amazing performances by Alexandra Trusova.

Health Science

New Therapy Reverses Brain Decline

An innovative treatment strategy targeting dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has shown promising outcomes, achieving a reversal in cognitive decline for eighty percent of participants.

This novel approach is moving away from the traditional less effective methods where they use a single treatment modality. Instead, it involves a precision treatment protocol that is personalized for each patient, focusing on a comprehensive evaluation of multiple contributing factors related to cognitive decline.

This precision medicine trial was a collaborative effort by specialists from the Functional Medicine Psychiatry and Dementia Clinic in Walnut Creek, California, the Northwest Memory Care Clinic in Ashland, Oregon, and Dr. Ann Hathaway Clinic in San Rafael, California. The treatment is grounded in a holistic assessment of each patient's genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, similar to strategies successfully applied in cancer care.

Professor Dale Bredesen, a senior author of the study, emphasizes the significance of adopting precision medicine protocols to address complex chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

The study involved 25 individuals aged 50 to 76 with dementia or MCI. The treatment, lasting nine months, addressed multiple factors identified as contributing to cognitive decline, including insulin resistance, inflammation, gut health, genetic factors, vascular issues, hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and exposure to pathogens and toxins.

Recognizing inflammation as a key factor in the development of dementia, the study employed a comprehensive approach to address it, utilizing a combination of vitamins and herbal supplements. These included vitamins C and D, along with quercetin, liposomal glutathione, fish oil, resveratrol, and boswellia. In addition to nutritional intervention, stress management played a crucial role in the treatment protocol. Participants were advised to engage in 45 minutes of aerobic exercise daily for six days a week, complemented by twice-weekly strength training sessions, aiming to enhance both physical and cognitive health.

Significant improvements were noted in patients’ cognitive functions. MRI scans revealed an increase in brain grey matter volume by 0.3%, a stark contrast to the expected annual reduction. Specifically, the hippocampus, crucial for learning and memory, showed a lesser rate of volume decrease of 1.29% compared to typical annual reductions in MCI or Alzheimer’s patients of 3.5–4.66%.

Lead author Dr. Kat Toups noted, “I have been the Principal Investigator on more than 20 long-term clinical trials for patients with MCI and dementia where the benchmark for success was merely a slowing in cognitive decline. This trial is the first to show actual improvement in multiple domains of functioning, as well as improvements in MRI brain scans.”

The study, which has been published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The full text can be found here.

Entertainment

Tribute to Toby Keith at CMT Music Awards

Toby Keith, the late country music icon, received a heartfelt tribute at the CMT Music Awards last April 7th. Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, and Sammy Hagar delivered energetic performances honoring Keith's legacy.

Brooks & Dunn kicked off the tribute with a lively rendition of Keith’s "Should’ve Been a Cowboy." Sammy Hagar followed with "I Love This Bar," sharing light-hearted anecdotes about their adventures together in Cabo San Lucas. Lainey Wilson closed the set with "How Do You Like Me Now," introduced by Riley Green and Lukas Nelson.

Accompanied by Keith’s longtime band members, the performers paid homage to the beloved artist. Former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, a close friend of Keith, emotionally thanked Keith's family for sharing him "with the world" before leading a toast with red cups, referencing Keith's hit song "Beer for My Horses."

Keith, who passed away in February after battling stomach cancer at 62, revealed his diagnosis in a 2022 statement. Described as facing his illness with grace and courage, Keith leaves behind a legacy of hits like "Red Solo Cup" and "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)."

Recognized with seven CMT Music Awards and numerous nominations, Keith's impact on country music was profound. Posthumously set to join the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2024 and previously awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2021, Keith's contributions to the genre endure as a lasting legacy.

World News

Amazing Cathedral Nears Completion After 140 Years

The La Sagrada Familia Foundation has announced the projected completion of the monumental church in Barcelona for 2026, marking a century since the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí.
Construction of the Sagrada Familia commenced in 1882 under Gaudí's direction until his passing in 1926. After over 140 years, a final completion timeline has been established.

According to La Sagrada Familia Foundation's statement to CNN, the Chapel of the Assumption is slated for completion in 2025, followed by the tower of Jesus Christ in 2026. Gaudí envisioned the vast church to be adorned with 18 spires, of which 12 are already finished.
Currently, the remaining six towers, including the towering central spire reaching 170 meters in height, are under construction. Once finished, this central spire will elevate Sagrada Familia to become the tallest church globally, surpassing Ulm Minster in Germany by nearly 10 meters.

Recent efforts to expedite construction and alleviate structural burdens have involved collaboration with engineering firm Arup. Tristram Carfrae, an engineer from Arup, revealed in an interview with Dezeen that prefabricated stone panels are being utilized for constructing the remaining towers.
The Sagrada Familia's construction history has been lengthy and intricate, with Gaudí's significant intervention in 1883 after the departure of the original architect. Over the next four decades, Gaudí guided the project until his death, by which time less than a quarter of the church was estimated to be complete. Subsequent delays due to financial constraints and interruptions during the Spanish Civil War hindered progress, leading to the loss of many original plans.

Presently, the ongoing construction adheres to reconstructed designs and models. The Sagrada Familia stands as the largest and most prominent among Gaudí's architectural works in Barcelona, with the first publicly accessible house he designed opening in 2017.

Sports

Free Bikes for Wisconsin Youth: Exchange for Community Service

In Madison, Wisconsin, a volunteer organization known as Wheels for Winners is providing a practical incentive for community service: refurbished bicycles. Applicants are required to demonstrate completion of 10 hours of community service for any organization in Madison.

Once the service requirement is met, individuals can choose a bike from the selection and take it home. The organization refurbishes donated bikes for this purpose, ensuring that none go to waste.
Neil McCallum, Chairman of the Wheels for Winners Board, explains that the organization refurbishes approximately 400 bikes each year out of the 750 bikes they receive. Their goal is to provide bikes to young people who may not have the means to afford one, in exchange for a small amount of effort.

Wheels for Winners operates as a 501(c)3 organization, receiving tax-free support from the community and grants, such as a recent one from American Family Insurance. They distribute bikes to individuals who have earned them through community service and also support biking events in the community.

Their activities include hosting events and providing bike tune-ups through a mobile bike library staffed by volunteer mechanics. These events aim to provide bikes and maintenance services to children in various neighborhoods.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What flies forever, rests never?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Because he carries a fine comb. (referring to the coxcomb; the red crest that roosters have)

Gerry Moore got the correct answer first!

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] or reply to the email.

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.