Here’s why it may seem like some people’s brains age faster than others
Not everyone’s brain seems to age the same way. Some elderly people you meet may still be as sharp as ever, while others couldn’t tell you what they had for breakfast. Now, new research is giving us a deeper understanding of why that may be.
A recent paper published Thursday, Nov. 7, in the journal Genomic Psychiatry tested brain aging theories. Researchers found about half the variabilities that cause some to experience more cognitive decline than others may already have been present in childhood.
They said some aspects of cognitive abilities in older age may be connected to test scores around age 11.
However, researchers said cognitive decline isn’t inevitable. Some adult lifestyle factors still appear to be linked with improved cognitive performance and slower aging of the brain.
Researchers said factors like exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument may be linked to healthier cognitive aging.
One of the study’s authors explained it like this: “marginal gains, not magic bullet.” That means there isn’t one single thing that puts you at a bigger risk for cognitive decline, rather, lots of factors play into it.
Authorities search for 43 escaped monkeys from SC research facility
Police in a small South Carolina town are looking for 43 monkeys that escaped a research facility. Authorities in Yemassee — which is about 60 miles west of Charleston — said the monkeys escaped the Alpha Genesis facility Wednesday, Nov. 6.
In an update on Thursday, Nov. 7, police said the escaped primates are all rhesus macaques. They did not, however, say what trials the monkeys were involved in so it’s unknown if they have been exposed to diseases.
A local newspaper in the county where the monkeys escaped says this is not the first time it’s happened. The Beaufort County Post and Courier said in 2016 that 19 monkeys escaped from the same facility, but they were rounded up about six hours later.
Police have set up traps in the area and say they’re using thermal imagining to help them find the missing monkeys.
Processed red meats linked to increased dementia risk: Study
The evidence against ultra-processed foods just keeps stacking up. In a new study, researchers presented preliminary findings from a study that shows regularly eating processed red meat is linked to a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
Processed red meats include things like hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami and bologna.
Researchers tracked more than 130,000 U.S. adults for up to 43 years. They said during that time, 11,173 of those people developed dementia.
According to the study’s authors, those who ate two servings of processed red meat a week had a 14% higher risk of developing dementia than those who ate fewer servings.
Furthermore, the study found eating unprocessed red meat did not significantly increase the risk of developing dementia. Unprocessed red meats are things like steak or pork chops.
Most processed meats are classified as “ultra-processed foods,” which means they’re made with ingredients that don’t occur naturally. The most common are soy protein isolate, high fructose corn syrup, modified starches, flavorings or color additives. Many ultra-processed foods also have high levels of sugar, sodium or fat, all of which have long been known to negatively impact health.
Some of the most common ultra-processed foods are things like sodas, flavored yogurts, instant soups and most breakfast cereals. A different study published 2023 found they make up a huge part of the American diet, accounting for about 58% of children and adults’ calorie intake. These foods have been linked to health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer.
In recent years, several studies have linked ultra-processed foods to cognitive decline as well — not just this new study. However, researchers say while these studies show a link, they do not prove the foods directly harm the brain and not all the studies have found a consistent link.
Experts also said they are not sure exactly how ultra-processed foods would impact the brain. Still, according to the researchers, cutting down on intake of these foods is never a bad idea.
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
The White House released President Joe Biden’s next plans to reassure concerned Democrats after last week’s debate. And July 4 holiday travelers are expected to break records on the road amid soaring temperatures. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
President Joe Biden and his team are taking this holiday week to reassure supporters that his decision to remain in the presidential race is the right one after his performance during the June 27 debate left some in his party questioning his candidacy. During a campaign fundraiser event in Virginia Tuesday, July 2, Biden blamed his poor performance on jet lag from back-to-back European trips, telling donors that “he wasn’t very smart” that he “didn’t listen” to his staff.
Reports also said Biden added that he almost “fell asleep during the debate.” To what extent the president was joking is not clear.
Previously, Biden’s campaign had said the president had a cold going into the debate.
On Wednesday, July 3, the president will speak with Democratic governors and party leaders as he looks to calm their fears. The White House reportedly will also be holding an all-staff meeting which the Associated Press describes as a “morale-booster.”
Biden has also agreed to sit down for an interview ABC News on Friday, July 5.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration really wants to turn the page on this topic with Biden heading to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days, but that didn’t stop reporters from pressing the issue.
“I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer’s any form of dementia or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?” Andrew Feinberg, a reporter with The Independent, said. “And it’s a yes or no question and if you don’t know, why don’t you, as one of his senior staff members, know?”
Jean-Pierre fired back, “I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it? It’s a ‘no’ and I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question.”
This all comes as some members of the Democratic party are calling for Biden to step aside.
“I thought it was time for me to speak up, not for any self-gain, but because I think the risk to our country is so great we need to have the strongest candidate possible in order to ensure that the values that we hold for our democracy are not traded for an authoritarian strongman bent on revenge against his opponents,” Doggett told NBC News.
In a Newsweek opinion column, former Ohio congressman and presidential candidate Tim Ryan promoted the idea for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Biden on their party’s ticket.
Speaking to CBS News after leaving a fundraiser in California, the vice president confirmed President Biden remains the Democratic nominee.
“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee,” Harris said. “We beat Trump once and we’re going to beat him again. Period.”
Harris added, “I am proud to be Joe Biden’s running mate.”
Judge delays sentencing in Trump criminal case
Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his New York criminal trial has been pushed back to at least September. The judge’s decision came out Tuesday, July 2, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court handed the former president a big win, ruling he has some immunity from being criminally prosecuted on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump’s sentencing in New York was originally scheduled for next Thursday, July 11. Now, the judge overseeing the trial says Trump will be sentenced on Sept. 18 “if such is still necessary.”
That’s an “if” because Trump’s lawyers say the Supreme Court ruling should not only delay the sentencing but lead to tossing out his conviction completely.
Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social after the decision came down, saying the Supreme Court’s decision awarded him “total exoneration” in this and other criminal cases he faces.
Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony in May, when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The Supreme Court’s decision has cast doubt on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump on election subversion charges, and a trial before the November election is highly unlikely now.
Giuliani disbarred in New York for 2020 election interference efforts
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York after a Manhattan appeals court found he repeatedly made false statements about former President Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. The court said Giuliani “flagrantly misused” his position.
Giuliani, once a legal adviser to Trump, has been banned from practicing law in “any form” in New York. Giuliani’s lawyer said his legal team was disappointed by the court’s decision.
Island-wide emergency declared in Jamaica ahead of Beryl
As Hurricane Beryl hurtles toward Jamaica, the country’s prime minister preemptively declared the whole island a disaster area. He’s also instated an island-wide curfew for Wednesday, July 3.
Beryl has been downgraded to a Category 4 storm now, but it’s already caused at least six deaths in the Caribbean.
Beryl is forecast to weaken more as it gets closer to Jamaica, but is still expected to be a major hurricane — at least a Category 3 — when it hits, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surge.
Eli Lilly’s drug has been shown in clinical trials to slow a decline in memory and thinking abilities in people in the early stages of the disease. The drug, which will be sold in the coming weeks under the brand name Kisunla, is an infusion given every four weeks that targets a protein buildup in the brain — considered to be the main indicator of Alzheimer’s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.7 million people in the U.S. 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s last year. That number’s expected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060.
Watch for heat, rain, busy roads this July 4 holiday
The July 4 holiday is almost here, and while people get set to celebrate America’s independence, they may find themselves having to face two separate issues — the weather and the roads. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the brief break from the heat in the eastern U.S. is over, with heat and humidity pushing through New England.
In California and portions of the southwest, triple-digit temperatures are expected throughout the holiday week. Meanwhile in the Midwest, NOAA said rain could spoil the cookouts.
Then there’s the jam-packed roadways. AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will drive over the July 4 week. That’s nearly 3 million more than last year and would surpass 2019’s pre-pandemic levels, when around 55 million traveled by car.
Jury deliberations to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations are set to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial. And Apple finally takes a big step into the world of artificial intelligence with “Apple Intelligence.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Day 2 of jury deliberations in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday, June 11, in the federal gun trial of Hunter Biden. Deliberations started on Monday, June 10, after both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. Jurors only deliberated for less than an hour before being sent home for the day.
The jurors will decide whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felony charges linked to purchasing a gun in 2018, when he was reportedly addicted to drugs.
In closing arguments, the prosecution urged jurors to “use common sense” to find the president’s son guilty, adding “no one is above the law.” The defense, however, said the prosecution failed to prove Hunter Biden was using illegal drugs when he bought the gun — claiming there were “gaping holes” in the case.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Blinken in Israel; U.N. Security Council endorses cease-fire plan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to urge top Israeli officials to accept and implement a plan for post-war Gaza, meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv Tuesday, June 11. This come as he also pushes for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal just endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
On Monday, June 10, 14 of the U.N.’s 15 security council members voted in favor of endorsing the cease-fire plan to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that was announced by President Joe Biden in May. Only Russia abstained from voting.
The U.S. said Israel has already accepted the cease-fire proposal.
The resolution calls on Hamas to agree to the three-phase plan, which would see an initial six-week cease-fire and the exchange of some Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The second phase would include a permanent cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza strip.
Hamas was quick to welcome the resolution, saying in a statement it’s ready to cooperate with mediators and enter “indirect negotiations” over the implementation of the principles of the agreement.
Port of Baltimore shipping channel fully reopens after bridge collapse
After being closed for more than two months, the Port of Baltimore’s shipping channel is fully operational again. In late March, a massive 213-million pound cargo ship crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six construction workers and causing the structure to collapse — cutting off access to the crucial shipping artery.
To fully reopen the 700-foot-wide channel, crews had to remove roughly 50,000 tons of wreckage from the Patapsco River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The work to rebuild the nearly 50-year-old bridge continues. Shortly after the collapse, President Biden pledged the federal government would help pay for it.
Note: The above has been corrected to say 213-million pounds. An earlier version omitted million.
FDA panel backs Eli Lilly drug that slows Alzheimer’s progression
A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers is unanimously backing an Alzheimer’s drug from Eli Lilly that’s been shown to slow the disease’s progression. The drug works by helping the body remove amyloid plaque buildups in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
These plaques are harmful deposits that can form in the brain as people age. Removing the plaque seems to slow down the brain changes that seem to happen with Alzheimer’s.
The FDA will make a final decision on approval later this year.
If approved, Eli Lilly’s drug would become the second Alzheimer’s medication of its kind currently on the U.S. market, expanding treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death for adults over 65 years old.
Apple unveils its AI strategy, partnership with OpenAI
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, where it announced new upgrades to its devices and operating systems. But what’s getting the most attention is Apple Intelligence, the tech company’s new strategy for incorporating AI into its business model.
“Recent developments in generative intelligence and large language models offer powerful capabilities that provide the opportunity to take the experience of using Apple products to new heights,” CEO Tim Cook said. “So, as we look to build in these incredible new capabilities, we want to ensure that the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products.”
Among its capabilities, Apple Intelligence will see an update to the voice assistant Siri. Apple said Siri will now better understand your questions and, like with other chatbots, people will also be able to type to Siri.
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI Monday, saying if Siri doesn’t know the answer to something, it will ask if it can take your question to ChatGPT.
New writing tools will see Apple Intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize text across various apps, as well as suggest the right tone for the message.
Apple said people will also be able to create your own custom emojis just by describing what you are looking for. They’re calling these “genmojis.”
Apple Intelligence is set to launch in the fall.
Starbucks launches its own production studio
When you think of Hollywood production studios, you might think of Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Disney. But a new name is now joining the list: Starbucks.
The coffee chain announced the creation of Starbucks Studios, which it said will “produce original entertainment and tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations.”
Starbucks is partnering with Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar and his media company Sugar23.
Starbucks is the latest company to open its own production studio, following brands like Nike and Mailchimp.
Study shows virtual reality helping seniors as ‘silver tsunami’ approaches
Virtual reality (VR) is giving some senior citizens a new lease on life. According to The Associated Press, Stanford University studied the use of VR at 17 senior living communities. Researchers found that out of 245 participants between the ages of 65 and 103 years old, most saw improvement in their reported emotional well-being and interactions with staff.
The study is now being used to adapt VR technology to patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia in an effort to improve their emotional well-being.
According to the study, around 80% of seniors involved in the testing reported having a more positive attitude after using VR, and 60% said they fell less socially isolated.
“Part of what triggers the memory with virtual reality is the idea of immersion,” Mynd Immersive CEO Chris Brickler said. “Right, so, when we take somebody out of the four walls of their current environment and place them into a different place, the mind treats that experience differently. The mind thinks that we’re actually close to being that reality. So, that can bring back a tremendous amount of joy, a tremendous amount of memories.”
The findings by Stanford University researchers come as America braces for a “silver tsunami,” with a record 4.1 million people set to turn 65 this year, according to Axios.
With a potentially large pool of customers, companies who manufacture VR headsets will need to be ready to address issues of price and comfort.
Many Vision Pro owners returned the $3,500 headsets to Apple, as a flurry of posts on social media showed users boxing up their headsets right when the 14-day window for a full refund was closing, according to The Verge.
The reasons customers cited for returning their Vision Pro headsets ranged from complaints of motion sickness to the weight of the device being too heavy. One customer told The Verge that he burst a blood vessel in his eye using the Apple headset.
Mynd Immersive, which creates virtual reality headsets for seniors, said comfort is something the company is working on. Mynd Immersive said that common complaints relate to weight, heat and nausea. So, the company introduced new headsets.
Mynd Immersive’s new headsets reportedly weigh 6 ounces, which is down from a pound on previous headsets, and they have a built-in fan for cooling.
Russian fighter jets harassing US military caught on camera, again: July 7 rundown
For the second day in a row, Russian fighter jets were caught on video harassing U.S. military drones in Syria, and Twitter threatened a competitor with a lawsuit. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Friday, July 7, 2023.
Russian jet drops flares in front of U.S. drone
Russian fighter jets have been caught on camera harassing U.S. military drones in Syria for the second day in a row. The Air Force released a video that shows Russian jets dropping flares in front of the drones.
According to the Pentagon, footage shows the jets flying dangerously close to the reaper drones which were carrying out an operation against Islamic State targets on the morning of Thursday, July 6. The incident is similar to one that occurred the previous day.
On Wednesday, July 5, three U.S. military drones were harassed by three Russian fighter jets in Syria. An earlier confrontation occurred in March when Russian aircraft collided with a U.S. drone, causing it to crash into the Black Sea.
The U.S. has condemned Russia, calling all three incidents “unsafe and unprofessional.”
$800m aid package to Ukraine could include cluster bombs
The Biden administration is expected to announce its latest military aid package for Ukraine. According to the Associated Press, It’s expected to be worth up to $800 million dollars.
Part of the deal is expected to include cluster munitions, which is controversial because cluster bombs have a high rate of failure to explode. Some reports say the failure rate is as high as 40%.
The Pentagon refused to confirm Thursday whether the explosives would be part of the package, but said it would be helpful to Ukraine’s current counteroffensive. The latest military aid is coming from Pentagon stocks and will include armored vehicles, ammunition and rocket systems.
This $800 million package is separate from the $500 million aid package The Pentagon announced last week. More than $40 billion dollars in military aid has been sent to assist Ukraine since February of 2022.
Yellen criticizes China’s treatment of U.S. companies
Secretary of State Janet Yellen made a trip to Beijing for the better interest of American business overseas. In a meeting with some of the most powerful American companies, Yellen criticized the Chinese Communist Party for its treatment of those companies.
Yellen called new export controls on certain critical minerals. She China’s punitive actions are fueling the Biden administration’s efforts to make U.S. manufacturers less reliant on China.
This is the second high-stakes trip the Biden administration has made in the last few weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China’s President Xi Jinping in June.
Twitter threatens to sue Meta over launch of rival Threads app
Twitter has threatened legal action over Meta’s new social media app Threads that launched Thursday. An attorney for Twitter described the newly-launched platform as a “copycat” service.
According to a letter sent to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter alleged the app was developed by former employees of Twitter and uses the company’s trade secrets. Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted “Competition is fine. Cheating is not.”
Within its first few hours of launch, Threads had more than 30 million users signed up.
FDA approves first drug shown to slow Alzheimer’s
For the first time ever, a drug meant to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s will be on the market. The FDA has approved the Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi.
While other drugs targeting the symptoms of the disease have already been approved, this is the first drug that slows down cognitive decline. Scientists said patients still decline on the drug, but the onset is slowed by as much as 27%, according to clinical trial results.
Leqembi will cost $26,000 per year. Medicare is expected to broadly cover those costs.
LAEA chief reveals Fukushima water release concerns
New evidence shows some of the experts involved in the plans to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan may not be on board. The United Nation’s nuclear watchdog released a report Tuesday, July 4 greenlighting the plans.
However, the head of the watchdog said one or two of the experts behind the report may have had concerns about releasing the water. This could include Liu Senlin, a Chinese expert who described the report as “hasty,” saying the input from experts was limited and only used for reference.
“I heard that being said. I’m not sure to be honest that that is the case. But again, what we’ve published is scientifically impeccable,” International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Raphael Grossi said in an exclusive interview with Reuters Friday. “They often say this is one-sided. We do not take sides. I’m not on the side of Japan or on the side of China or on the side of Korea. The standards apply to all, the same way.”
Grossi toured the nuclear plant Wednesday and said he’s satisfied with the plans. He called for trust in his organization and offered to visit South Korea to address any further concerns.
Scientists optimistic about cancer cure vaccine, Alzheimer’s treatment
Scientists are optimistic about the development of vaccines that may cure certain types of cancer within the next five years. Additionally, a groundbreaking Alzheimer’s drug could receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as early as next month. These medical advancements offer hope in the ongoing battle against some of the world’s most devastating diseases.
Experimental trials conducted this year have reported promising results in using vaccines to shrink tumors and prevent cancer recurrence, particularly for deadly skin cancer melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Scientists also believe that breast cancer and lung cancer may be effectively treated with vaccines in the near future.
“They’re not really associated with any side effects, so they’re super well tolerated,” Dr. Nora Disis of the UW Medicine’s Cancer Vaccine Institute said. “They’re not chemotherapy, and patients do very well. You can get a short course of vaccines and they last a lifetime.”
These newer cancer vaccines utilize mRNA technology, initially developed for cancer treatment but gaining recognition through its application in COVID-19 vaccines. Despite initial vaccine hesitancy, scientists familiar with the trials have reported successful outcomes thus far, with Dr. Steve Lipkin, a medical geneticist at New York’s Weill Cornell Medicine, hypothesizing that “vaccines are probably the next big thing” in the quest to reduce cancer deaths.
“We’re getting something to work. Now we need to get it to work better,” said Dr. James Gulley, who helps lead a center at the National Cancer Institute that develops immune therapies.
In parallel to these cancer research efforts, the FDA is expected to grant approval to a pioneering drug designed to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Known as Leqembi, this drug targets a specific substance found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s. If granted full approval, over one million Medicare patients in the early stages of the disease could gain access to this potentially life-changing medication.
“Just the idea that they could gain more time is profoundly important and exciting,” Robert Egge, chief public policy officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, said. “That’s why patients [and] their families have been speaking up so loudly for the need for Medicare coverage.”
Currently, one in nine Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects over 6 million individuals in the United States.
Meanwhile, cancer diagnosis rates remain high, with men having a one in two chance and women having a one in three chance of being diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.
Northeast buried in snow, aviation summit to address close calls: March 15 rundown
Hundreds of schools are closed this morning in the Northeast and hundreds of flights are delayed as several feet of snow drop in the region. This story and more highlight your daily rundown for Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
Nor’easter drops feet of snow
It’s the first nor’easter of the year. A strong storm system blowing in from the northeast has dropped as much as three feet of snow. Hundreds of thousands of people are without power as strong winds snapped trees and power lines throughout the northeast.
Residents in New England have been largely impacted and today will continue to see strong winds that could lead to more power outages and flight delays. More than 6,000 flights have either been delayed or canceled in the region.
Prosecutor in Baldwin case resigns
A special prosecutor in the fatal “Rust” movie set shooting has stepped down. Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor in the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin, made the decision to remove herself from the case after Baldwin’s legal team said her participation was unconstitutional.
Reeb is not only a prosecutor, but also a New Mexico state representative. Last month Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion to remove the special prosecutor, citing New Mexico’s separation of powers statute and calling the dual roles a conflict.
In a statement, Reeb said the best way to ensure justice is to remove herself as any distraction so the prosecution can focus on evidence and facts.
In the statement, she said Baldwin showed a complete disregard for basic protocols. Baldwin pleaded not guilty last month. He, along with a weapons supervisor on set, are facing 18 months in prison if convicted.
Aviation leaders hold safety summit
Following a series of close calls involving commercial flights, aviation leaders are meeting today to discuss the incidents and work to identify risks in flight safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration said while this is the safest period in aviation history, recent events have reminded them not to become complacent. FAA officials said it was time to look at the data and ask hard questions.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board will be at the summit. Buttigieg said he is looking to identify additional steps needed to reduce risks associated with air travel.
Mid-size SUVs fail crash test
The safety of mid-size SUVs were put to a crash test, and nearly half of them missed the mark in rear-seat safety. Of 13 SUVs, all of them earned good ratings for driver protection. But when it came to backseat safety, six of the 13 scored in the poor category. That is the lowest safety rating. The test simulated a 40-mile-per hour front-end crash.
There was a test dummy about the size of a 12-year-old in the backseat. After impact, the dummy showed marks of injury that were too high on the chest. High levels of head and neck forces were also recorded.
The mid-size SUV safety test was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute said the risk of a fatal injury is 46% higher in the backseat compared to the front where improved restraint technology is more commonly found.
In December, the institute tested small SUVs. Nine of the 15 earned its lowest safety rating.
Alzheimer’s cases to double in 20 years
According to a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine seniors in the U.S. is living with Alzheimer’s disease. And those numbers are projected to double over the next two decades.
Treatments for the disease are taking promising steps forward. But the association says baby boomers and doctors are not discussing critical memory concerns. The association says by not discussing risks of Alzheimer’s, patients lose out on early intervention and potential trials for treatment.
The new report also estimates more than 11 million caregivers are providing unpaid care in the U.S.
Though there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are currently 140 therapies being tested aimed at slowing its progression.
Penguins have cataracts removed
Six penguins at a Singapore zoo underwent eye surgery to remove their cataracts, in what is believed to be the world’s first procedure to improve penguins vision.
The affected penguins were unable to see things close up and had cloudiness in their eyes. The cataracts were safely removed from all six penguins who have already made a full recovery. A veterinarian who took part in the surgeries called it a milestone in veterinary medicine.
Morning rundown: JFK power outage grounds flights; Fetterman hospitalized
A power outage has affected more than 100 flights at the JFK airport in New York, with an entire terminal expected to remain closed today. This story and more highlight your daily rundown for Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
JFK terminal closed due to electrical issue
Travel disruptions at one of the world’s busiest airports will continue into Friday after an already 130 flights have either been canceled or delayed due to the power outage according to a flight-tracker’s website.
The fire department responded to a utility room fire at JFK, leading to an electrical panel failure according to the Port Authority. The electrical issues caused some incoming flights to be redirected to other airports on the East Coast. And some passengers boarded buses that took them to a nearby airport assisting JFK with international flights meant to depart from JFK’s terminal one.
The terminal shut down is just the latest stumble as airports around the country face scrutiny over operations.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down
Susan Wajcicki, YouTube CEO and one of the first Google employees, is stepping down from her role at the tech giant that started in her garage nearly 25 years ago. The change at the top comes as YouTube’s advertising revenue has fallen for the second straight quarter. Ad revenue during the final six months of last year also dropped 5% from the previous year.
YouTube faces big competition from Tiktok, Facebook and Instagram reels.
Wojcicki is stepping down after nine years in the position.
Fetterman hospitalized for depression
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, Pa., checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. His chief of staff said the first-year senator is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.
Fetterman suffered a stroke last May, and last week he felt lightheaded and had to be hospitalized again.
His chief of staff said doctors have told his office that Fetterman is getting the care he needs and will soon be back to himself.
Bruce Willis diagnosed with dementia
Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with dementia, evolving from a previous diagnosis of aphasia last spring according to his family. More specifically, the actor has frontotemporal dementia, which can bring challenges to speaking and writing according to doctors.
Willis’s family said last year the actor would be stepping away from his decades-long career due to his impaired cognition.
This type of dementia causes nerve damage in the frontal and temporal lobes, which leads to a loss of function in those areas, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Microsoft has admitted there are some kinks to work out after Sydney has been found to insult people’s looks or even compare people to Adolf Hitler.
Microsoft said in a blog post that the search engine chatbot is responding with a style they didn’t intend to certain types of questions.
McDonald’s rolls out plant-based nuggets
McDonald’s is famous for its golden chicken McNuggets, but the classic is transforming into a plant-based version in a new roll out expected to first hit 1,400 locations in Germany next week.
The McPlant nuggets are made from peas, corn, and wheat. It’s the second plant-based product from the fast-food giant. McDonald’s first sold a McPlant burger in 2021.
The announcement is part of a growing trend of fast food restaurants expanding into the plant-based food market.