Could an implant hold potential for the brain with dementia?
[TCV Update 2/14/2022 NYT article, subscription required] Could “chips” (brain implants) proposed by Elon Musk’s Neuralink hold promise for people with dementia? Although this article does not address dementia directly, researchers could implant these chips among functioning brain cells to give people with Alzheimer’s greater abilities.
Related article from 2017 addresses a “memory prosthesis” for people with dementia, giving us a view of how research is progressing.
Nine Ways Thinking Like a Philosopher Will Make You Wiser
If knowledge is information, wisdom is acting upon that knowledge. We can gain a lifetime of knowledge, yet never extract any wisdom out of it. “Roman philosopher Seneca was amazed by how people were so protective of their property, money, and possessions, yet careless about their most precious asset: their time.” “Thinking like a philosopher means not taking things for granted.” “Certainty is the enemy of wisdom… Seeking wisdom is a never-ending journey.” “Thinking like a philosopher is understanding that there’s not just one single right answer.”
Medical Power of Attorney Legal Template
Mollie Morric of Legal Templates sent The Caregiver’s Voice this link to a convenient infographic of Advance Directives and Medical Powers of Attorney. (Click on title to view infographic.) “[Eighty percent] of terminally ill patients don’t want to receive intensive care at the end of their lives… However, only 1/3 of American adults have completed an Advance Directive.” Valuable tips on who should and should not be your healthcare agent.
Long-Term Use of Certain Medications Raises Alzheimer’s Risk
[TCV Update 2/14/2022 NYT article, subscription required] “[L]ong-term use of some anticholinergic medications might increase the risk that older people will develop dementia.” There’s “a 50-percent increased risk of dementia among people who used a strong anticholinergic drug daily [e.g., Parkinson’s drugs, Benadryl, antipsychotics] for about three years within that 10-year period. The association was stronger for antidepressants, bladder drugs, antipsychotics and epilepsy medications….”
First genetically modified animals approved for U.S. consumption
“[Atlantic salmon] are the first genetically modified animals approved for U.S. consumption.” News like this makes me question what we give up in nutritional value – e.g., grams of protein from one ounce of wild salmon vs. an ounce of genetically modified farmed salmon. What happens when we create faster growing chickens or pigs? Our fast-growth beef no longer tastes like or is textured as I remember from my early adult years (decades ago).
Nine Tricks Advertisers Use to Make Food Look Delicious
While on the topic of food (above), here’s an eye-opening short video of how advertisers market pancakes, stuffed potatoes, burgers ‘n beer, cereal, roast turkey, pie with whipped cream, and soup. Of course, they really did a number with the ice cream sundae. You may know some of this already, but did you know how? (Click below to watch the video.)
