Key Points
Question Is higher meat consumption associated with better cognitive health among individuals with APOE genotypes ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4, and does this association differ from that observed in other genotypes?
Findings In this cohort study among 2157 older adults without dementia, higher total meat consumption was associated with slower cognitive decline and a reduced dementia risk among older adults with APOE ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 genotypes. Interactions by APOE genotype were observed for trajectories of global cognition and episodic memory.
Meaning These findings suggest that higher meat consumption than conventionally recommended may be associated with benefits in a genetically defined subgroup comprising approximately one-quarter of the global population.
Tag: health
A faulty brain waste disposal system may lead to psychosis
A specialized network responsible for washing away cellular waste in the brain might play a role in the development of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In a recent brain imaging study, researchers found that young people at a high genetic risk for psychosis showed early signs of a malfunctioning brain clearance system, which was linked to a toxic buildup of stimulating chemicals. The research was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science.
Every day, the brain generates metabolic waste as it processes information. To keep the biological environment stable, a network called the glymphatic system flushes out this debris. This system pushes cerebrospinal fluid into the brain tissue, where it mixes with the fluid surrounding the cells. The fluid then washes away extra neurotransmitters, inflammatory proteins, and misfolded proteins.
This fluid movement is driven by star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes. Astrocytes have specialized water channels, called aquaporin-4 channels, that act like tiny valves. When these channels fail to work properly, or when the blood vessels leak, the entire clearance process slows down. Waste products then accumulate in the brain tissue, potentially causing damage.
Motorcycle fatalities analyzed by state — 2025 study
Key Takeaways
- Motorcyclists face the highest risk of fatal crashes in Florida, Texas, and Colorado, respectively.
- Motorcycle fatalities are up 11% in the last 3 years.
- In 2022, there were 6,219 motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. due to crashes.
- Texas had the highest average annual motorcycle fatality rate at 13.69 deaths per 10,000 registered motorcycles. This is followed by Arkansas (12.79) and Missouri (11.51).
- South Dakota experienced a 45% reduction in motorcycle crash fatalities between 2020-2022, the largest decrease of all U.S. states.
- Harley-Davidson riders were the least likely to wear a helmet across different motorcycle makes, with 48% of those in fatal crashes not wearing one. But, their drivers were least likely to be speeding or racing, with only 9% doing so.
Reasonable and informative overview, unfortunately lacking per capita breakdown. Harley riders are least likely to wear a helmet due to the dumbass culture surrounding Harley. They are also the least likely to die while speeding or racing, due to the slowness of the bikes. I actually own a Harley Pan America (which is not slow) and enjoy it very much. Motorcycles in general define a subculture, and within that subculture there are many sub-subcultures. The Harley subculture is an example of how intransigent cultures can be. It has remained largely the same for many decades. The weird part of that is the Harley brand is the hardass maverick rider who does his own thing, while in reality it’s nothing more than a highly conformist style, which includes not wearing helmets. Still, I like Harley guys and all motorcycles. Besides helmets, very good body armor and airbag vests are available for all riders. ABN
Evidence-based dual-attention switching exercises
Bimanual classic: Write numbers 1-20 (left hand) + alphabet A-T (right hand) at once, no rhythm. Builds flexibility; dual-task studies show prefrontal gains.
Here are several additional evidence-based dual-attention switching exercises (also called dual-task or task-switching activities) that rely purely on your body, voice, simple household objects, or mental effort—no apps, devices, or technology required. These build on prefrontal cortex engagement, executive function (like flexibility, inhibition, and working memory), and motor-cognitive coordination, similar to the ones mentioned earlier. Many draw from physical therapy, neurorehabilitation, and aging/fitness research showing benefits for attention switching, balance, and cognitive reserve.
Perform each for 1–5 minutes per set, 3–5 sets a few times per week. Start easier and gradually increase difficulty (e.g., faster pace, longer duration, or more complex cognitive elements). Safety first—use support if needed for balance tasks.
- Walking + Serial Subtraction / Backward Counting
Walk at a steady pace (indoors or outdoors) while counting backward by 3s, 7s, or another number from 100 or 200 (e.g., 100 → 97 → 94…).
Variations: Name months of the year backward, recite the alphabet skipping every other letter, or list items in a category (animals, cities) while walking.
This is a classic motor-cognitive dual task that improves gait stability, executive function, and attention switching, especially effective in studies on older adults. - One-Leg Balance + Verbal Fluency or Alphabet Recitation
Stand on one leg (hold a chair or wall lightly for safety if needed) while reciting the alphabet backward, spelling words backward (e.g., your name or common words), naming as many items as possible in a category (fruits, tools), or counting backward from 50 by 2s.
Switch legs after each set.
This targets balance + rapid cognitive flexibility and is frequently used in dual-task balance training protocols. - Ball Toss + Category Naming / Word Association
Toss a soft ball (tennis ball, rolled-up sock, etc.) up and catch it repeatedly with one or both hands while naming items in a category (e.g., vegetables, movies), saying words that start with a specific letter, or alternating categories every few tosses.
Solo version: Bounce it against a wall or floor. Partner version: Toss back and forth while keeping the verbal task going.
This combines hand-eye coordination with verbal fluency and quick switching—very common in cognitive-physical dual-task programs. - Marching in Place + Head Turns or Directional Commands
March in place (high knees if able) while slowly turning your head side to side or up/down, or follow self-given commands like “left, right, forward, back” (pointing or saying directions). Add counting backward or naming opposites (hot/cold, up/down).
This works vestibular input + attention shifting and appears in many balance + cognitive dual-task routines. - Tandem Walking / Heel-Toe Line Walk + Mental Math or Memory Recall
Walk heel-to-toe in a straight line (like on an imaginary tightrope) while doing simple mental math (e.g., add/subtract serial numbers), recalling a short shopping list backward, or reciting a poem/lyrics from memory.
This challenges dynamic balance and working memory/attention switching simultaneously. - Bimanual Coordination + Auditory-Verbal Switching (No Sound Needed)
Perform alternating hand movements (e.g., one hand taps thigh while the other makes circles in the air, then switch) while naming days of the week backward or alternating between two categories (e.g., “boy name → girl name → boy name…”).
This is a pure motor + cognitive switch task that trains bilateral coordination and rapid task alternation.
These are straightforward, free, and adaptable to different fitness levels. Research (including reviews in journals like Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience and PMC sources on dual-task interventions) shows consistent gains in executive function, reduced dual-task interference, and better real-world multitasking from regular practice. Track your progress—many people notice easier daily switching (e.g., conversations while moving) after a few weeks. If you have any balance or mobility concerns, check with a healthcare provider first. Which type appeals most, or want tweaks for a specific goal?
Thoughts hidden by subjective phrases
After years of clearing up my mind, I noticed that my inner voice sometimes uses short phrases to bring negative trains of thought to an end. It was a habit I was aware of but had never given any thought to.
The phrases are not pretty; e.g. “I hate them all,” “fuck them,” “who cares about assholes like that,” etc.
My guess is this kind of inner speech is not uncommon. I was using it to end various lines of thought that had wandered into painful territory.
Having a clearer mind today or at least believing I did, I decided that when phrases or words like that came up again, I would not let them shut off my thoughts as I had been doing. Rather I would let the thoughts continue, explore what was there.
What I found is a bunch of old memories and emotions that were fairly easy to clean up. They were not so much repressed as not having been visited for many years. The nasty phrases were like labels in an old, unused filing cabinet.
About half the material was out of date and easy to toss. Another one-quarter was pertinent but was stuff I had dealt with in other ways and was thus redundant.
Only about a quarter of the material lying behind those nasty phrases deserved more thought.
In some of the most interesting cases, I realized that I was letting someone off too easy by hiding their behavior inside a neutral memory. They actually had been horrible but I had been too young to understand (narcissists, for example). Analyzing that stuff over again in a more mature mind was a bit of a chore, but the results have been good, even refreshing.
The process is ongoing. It does resemble cleaning an attic or an old filing cabinet. The stuff I found behind those nasty phrases was not all the stuff from my past. It was just stuff where I was blaming someone or feeling angry about something or had been harmed by someone. The bad stuff I’ve done is elsewhere in my mind.
I am struck by several things concerning those phrases and what lay behind them. One is a lot of that material dates back to childhood and early adulthood. It was not so much unconscious as not having been visited for a long time. Though most of it does not have strong emotional valence, some of it is very revealing because it brings together memories that had been disconnected, leading me to understand dramas or aspects of experience I had not understood before even though I had lived them. I also notice that it was just a few words that closed off those “files.”
The power of words to command silence in the mind is enormous.
I had been dismissing all that material with just a few words whenever I didn’t feel like going there, which was every time. After not going there for many years, it was refreshing to poke around and rearrange those parts of my mind. I am quite sure I freed up some memory space and removed some snags in my thinking by dealing with that stuff. I also see new patterns within my general sense of my past, patterns with better explanatory power, both truer and more concise.
I see our minds as having a structure sort of similar to language or a forest. Trees of ideas, memories, and feelings grow and change. It’s good to remove some of them sometimes, put the space to better use. Buddhist practice is very helpful in endeavors like this. Rather than get all worked up with Freudian passions and delusions, we can simply observe, dismiss, refile, erase, upgrade, or reimagine as needed based on our capacities and understanding of what’s best.
Our bhavanga or “storehouse consciousness” contains memories, pictures, ideas, words., explanations They flow along with us, in many ways are us. When the mind is clear, a lot of that material can be rearranged for the better. There aren’t many rules for that. Just do your best.
first posted
Poor precision in communication distorts motives
And distorted motives warp human interactions, which in turn degrade individual psychology.
There is no way around it—the ways almost all people communicate are much cruder than their brains are capable of.
And that is the cause of most of what we now call (non-biological) “mental health” problems.
Here is an example: I want to say something very complex to my primary care doctor. I can give her the gist in a minute or two but I do not want to have that go on my medical record.
So I ask her if I can start a discussion that she will promise to keep off my record.
She says, “I’ll think about it.”
A week later I get a letter from her nurse saying she is not willing to do what I asked.
No reason why was given. Do rules prevent her from doing that? I have heard of doctors allowing patients to keep some concerns off the record, but who knows what the reality is? Do you?
If I insist, will that go on my record? Did what I asked in the first place go on my record? My doctor is trapped within or is voluntarily following some guideline that is most decidedly not in my best interests.
This same sort of thing can happen interpersonally. If I raise a topic that is psychologically important to me with even a close friend, I have to wonder will they understand? Will they allow me to expand the subject over a few weeks or months or longer? Will my initial statements change our friendship?
The basic problem is how do you discuss complex psychological subjects with others?
One of my friends works in alternative health care. She knows what I want to bring up with my doctor and admits that even in her professional setting where patients have an hour to open up, there is not enough time.
Back to my primary care doctor. I saw her again a year later and she asked if I remembered her. I said, “Of course I remember you.” She said no more and neither of us raised the off-the-record topic. An intern was with her.
I wonder what she thinks of me. Did she interpret my slightly nervous behavior when I first asked as a “sign” of something? Does she think I am volatile or bipolar or just nuts? (I am not.)
I am 100% sure that she cannot possibly know what I wanted to bring up with her. In this case, I have all of the information and I want to give it to her but she cannot or will not allow that unless my initial fumblings toward a complex subject are made public.
Even a close friend could find themselves in a similar position. And I wonder if I have done that myself to someone. Most people most of the time are not able to scale those walls that divide us.
On either side of the wall is a complex person capable of complex understanding, but one or both persons cannot scale the wall. My doctor is smart enough to have become an MD and yet I cannot tell her about a complex medical condition that is of great importance to me.
I know that I do not want to open the subject and risk a shallow public label (a common hindrance to many potential communications). I honestly do not know what my doctor is thinking. Maybe I will try again the next time I see her.
One year later: I didn’t try again. After much thought, I decided to switch doctors. And I will not bring this subject up with my new doctor. It’s a sad reality that trying at all ruined (in my mind) my relationship with my first doctor and convinced me that the topic is not one I can discuss with any medical professional in a professional setting and maybe in any setting.
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UPDATE: I first posted the above a few years ago. The world has changed. What I wanted to discuss with my doctor is the attacks I have suffered at the hands of Jewish Supremists. ABN.
Restoring Health by Systemically Treating the Cell Danger Response
How maladaptive and harmful signaling within the body causes complex chronic illnesses and how to fix it
Story at a Glance:
•Cells have a variety of adaptive processes they undergo to handle stress. One of the most consequential ones is cells ceasing normal functioning via their mitochondria to enter a defensive mode (the Cell Danger Response) and then initiating a healing cycle to repair themselves.
•In health, this cycle resolves itself, but in chronic illness, the CDR becomes stuck, creating weakened tissue, inflammation, fatigue, and a variety of systemic illnesses.
•Extensive research has shown that autism results from a sustained CDR, and that when appropriate CDR blocking therapies are given, significant improvement can be observed in autistic children.
•A sustained CDR underlies many chronic illnesses, and in turn, many effective natural therapies, work, in part, by alleviating the CDR, often by creating an environment which signals safety to the body. As such, understanding the CDR is necessary to understand a myriad of chronic illnesses.
•This article will discuss the treatments that have been discovered to treat the CDR, detail how we use them in practice to ensure they benefit patients, and highlight many of the different types of illness (e.g., fatigue, hair loss, COVID spike protein injuries, autism, Alzheimer’s, the inability to exert oneself with age or injured tissues that refuse to heal) which respond to appropriate CDR treatments.
MAINE: Massive healthcare scams exposed
Mother’s milk is the conduit of a rich two-way system of information and nutrition particular to each unique baby and its unique mother, who breast feeds it
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This is an excellent example of biological semiotics, the sending of messages back and forth between the biologies of the mother and her infant. ABN
Sensory correction feels wonderful
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I got hearing aids a few years ago, and this is kind of how it feels, especially if you play a musical instrument. For adults, acclimation takes much longer because adult brains reprogram more slowly than kids. Everybody should have their hearing tested periodically or before taking on something that depends on good hearing, like learning a language, music, bird watching, conversation and much more. My audiologist told me it takes the average adult seven years to get hearing aids after they have been diagnosed with hearing loss, which typically declines slowly. For years, I thought my computer was bad because I could not hear videos clearly even at top volume (it wasn’t). Not hearing well has significant behavioral ramifications, which you will discover if you get HAs. Personally, I don’t feel embarrassed about wearing them in the least. They are basically eyeglasses for your ears. I love the tech and even think they are kind of cool. Plus I can actually hear quite well again. ABN
Maine egregious healthcare abuse described — Steve Robinson
‘Prion-like amyloid microclots were found in 100% of the COVID-19 vaccinated in a new peer-reviewed study. These clots are now being pulled from corpses worldwide. Criminal charges are warranted…’
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UPDATE: Nattokinase is reportedly able to dissolve these vax-related clots. Nattokinase is available on Amazon. It’s not expensive. ABN
The Great Healthcare Plan
Anxiety and fight, flight, or freeze
I suppose we all know what the fight, flight, or freeze response is.
In the wild, the freeze response is extremely valuable. You see a bear in the near distance and freeze. While you are frozen, you decide what to do. Quietly pull out the bear spray if you have any or just stay still in the hope the animal will leave.
The freeze response gets bad PR when we think of it as only the “deer in the headlights” response. That happens to deer because they do not understand that your car is moving at 60 MPH. If it were going at walking speed, the freeze response would protect the deer by giving it a few more seconds to consider more options.
It might be better to call the “freeze” response the “neither” response, or the “neutral” response or the “neither and keep thinking” response. Fight, flee, or do neither.
Rather than panic and run at or away from the bear, we do neither. Just stay still and consider our options. Time often dilates in such situations and most people probably have at least a few memories of making a very good decision during that brief time dilation.
In the human social realm—the realm of human signals—anxiety is often a sign of a stalled fight-flight response.
What I propose is that the next time you feel anxious about anything, consider the “freeze” or “neither and keep thinking” response rather than fight or flight. Call up and explore your freeze response. It is a very rich and useful response.
You can practice on a small anxiety-inducing incident, even manufacture one.
Do something that normally causes you to feel slightly anxious, but rather than feel anxious choose the “freeze” response instead. If the incident is small enough you will be able to engage in a cool, neutral brain state that greatly resembles beginner’s mind of the Zen tradition.
This technique moderates our instinctive response to a stressor by adding a layer of metacognition that guides it to what we want it to be.
It makes us mindful that we have more options than simply feeling anxious. Since we are social animals, human social stressors very often induce outsized responses that get stuck in a panic mode.
With just a small push from a metacognitive vantage, we can transform counterproductive anxiety into a more open and creative “freeze” response.
Exclusive: Some scientists say many detections of microplastics in the human body are most likely erroneous, with one high-profile study called a ‘joke’
High-profile studies reporting the presence of microplastics throughout the human body have been thrown into doubt by scientists who say the discoveries are probably the result of contamination and false positives. One chemist called the concerns “a bombshell”.
Studies claiming to have revealed micro and nanoplastics in the brain, testes, placentas, arteries and elsewhere were reported by media across the world, including the Guardian. There is no doubt that plastic pollution of the natural world is ubiquitous, and present in the food and drink we consume and the air we breathe. But the health damage potentially caused by microplastics and the chemicals they contain is unclear, and an explosion of research has taken off in this area in recent years.
However, micro- and nanoplastic particles are tiny and at the limit of today’s analytical techniques, especially in human tissue. There is no suggestion of malpractice, but researchers told the Guardian of their concern that the race to publish results, in some cases by groups with limited analytical expertise, has led to rushed results and routine scientific checks sometimes being overlooked.
American Buddhist Net 