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March/April 2025
BRAINWAVES UNBOUND ASTOUNDING AVENUES IN ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH
It never ceases to amaze me how science helps us and the ones we love.
Last year, nearly 7 million people in the U.S. were living with Alzheimer’s disease, a severe neurological disorder that adversely affects memory, thinking, and behavior and tends to worsen with age. This number is expected to increase to 12.7 million within 25 years. Whether it’s a dear family member, a neighbor, or a close friend, we likely all know someone who succumbed to the disease or is currently fighting its effects. Thankfully, scientists worldwide are working tirelessly to alleviate and ultimately cure this condition — and recently, they have made substantial and encouraging progress. Before sharing the good news, I want to explain why this breakthrough is so significant. Since its discovery nearly 120 years ago, Alzheimer’s disease has shrouded brain function in an incurable mystery. A leading cause of dementia, it is characterized by an irregular buildup of proteins in the brain called amyloid plaques. Initial symptoms include forgetting recent conversations or events. Over time, these symptoms may escalate to the point where patients experience memory loss so severe that they are unable to complete daily tasks or live independently. Although more than a century of research has yet to determine why these brain-damaging proteins appear and spread, many suspect genetics, environmental factors, and harmful lifestyle choices (such as smoking) may play a role. Last year, scientists in Massachusetts teamed up with researchers in China to test a potential method for eliminating the amyloid proteins that prompt the development of Alzheimer’s. Funded by the National Institute on Aging, the process involved using 40-hertz frequencies of sound and light to stimulate the brains of laboratory mice genetically engineered to have high amounts of these harmful proteins. The noninvasive brain stimulation triggered the mice’s glymphatic system — the part of the brain responsible for removing waste — and increased electric brain activity (gamma waves). As a
result, the amount of amyloid proteins in the mice’s brains drastically decreased. According to an update I read on “Science Friday,” clinical trials to determine whether this approach may affect humans similarly are in the works. In related news, a recent study showed that taxi drivers experience Alzheimer’s disease at a much lower rate than people in other lines of work. Although cabbies tend to pass away six years earlier than the average human life expectancy of 74, researchers believe their lowered risk of Alzheimer’s stems from their continued use of parts of the brain responsible for navigation. Although many of us face distractions in our everyday lives that take our focus away from positive news, it’s heartening to know that brilliant, dedicated people are working behind the scenes to
reverse the course of one of the world’s most devastating illnesses. It’s exciting that we’re in an age where further explorations and discoveries are possible. Although the past century has been a trying time for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, the future couldn’t be more promising.
Please call us at 304-594-1800 to find out how we can help you!
-Jeff Robinette
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LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE CTA Should You Wait or Act Now on Your Reporting Requirements?
One of your most important responsibilities as a business owner is ensuring your company stays compliant with your industry’s laws, regulations, and standards. Business owners always need to manage something related to finances, staffing, or workplace safety, but this past year, a new transparency standard went into effect. The federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) rules went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. This legislation requires nearly all small and medium-sized businesses to report any beneficial ownership information (BOI) of their company to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The deadline to file was Jan. 1, 2025, but that was thrown into question when a federal district court in Texas issued a nationwide
preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking any enforcement of the CTA and its reporting requirements.
This isn’t the first time that the CTA has faced legal challenges. In March 2024, an Alabama court declared the act unconstitutional. However, FinCEN quickly appealed and stated they would continue implementing and enforcing the act outside the small group of plaintiffs in Alabama. FinCEN’s response to the Texas injunction is different. It stated that companies were not required to file BOI with FinCEN and were not subject to liability. It also held that reporting companies could still voluntarily submit this information while they fight the injunction in court. Business owners who have yet to file their beneficial ownership information with FinCEN now have a decision to make. There is a chance the appeals in Alabama and Texas could kill the CTA and require Congress to take another shot at crafting a similar law. If you firmly believe this will be the outcome, hold off on filing your information, waiting for news that the CTA is no more. This may save you some time you could allocate elsewhere, but if the CTA remains, you might have to scramble to report that information before any deadline. Another option is to gather and sit on all relevant information until the court battle concludes. That way, you can submit it promptly, even on a shortened deadline. Your last option is to file your BOI with FinCEN now. You can save yourself from a potential future headache and get it out of the way early. Remember that punishments for failing to file include fines of at least $500 per day up to $10,000. There’s no telling how this will all play out right now, but the current situation leaves you with a decision: Will you be proactive or reactive?
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Start Your Brackets! It’s March Madness
How the NCAA Evolved Into a Basketball Powerhouse Many say Christmas is the most wonderful time of year. However, if you’re a college basketball fan, it’s safe to say that March Madness is your favorite season! Millions of fans come out to support their favorite teams and fill out brackets to guess the national champion. But the history of college basketball’s biggest tournament might surprise you. The First March Madness Champions Before UConn, Kansas, Baylor, and Virginia became NCAA men’s basketball champions, the University of Oregon paved the way. On March 27, 1939, the
University of Oregon defeated Ohio State University, 46–33. Ohio State’s star forward, Jimmy Hull, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player — not bad for a 2007 Ohio Basketball Hall of Famer.
Humble Beginnings March Madness originated in Illinois as an annual high school tournament sponsored by the Illinois High School Association. It went from a small invitational in 1908 to over 900 schools participating by the late 1930s. It wasn’t until 1939 that high school official Henry V. Porter called the tournament “March Madness.” The Emergence of March Madness for Colleges March Madness wasn’t nationally known or associated with the NCAA until CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger used the term while covering the 1982 spring tournament. Since then, the term has been synonymous with the event, and college basketball has never been the same.
Evolution of Tournament Expansions Only eight teams played in the 1939 tournament; by 1951, the number of teams doubled to 16. It wasn’t until 1985 that the 64-team tournament emerged. Further tournament expansion concluded in 2011, with 68 teams participating in college basketball’s big dance. March Madness Today March Madness isn’t exactly what it used to be 40 years ago, from the hoopla and controversy of Selection Sunday (March 16 this year) to the chaos and parity caused by NIL (athletes’ pay for “name, image, and likeness”). Nonetheless, the tournament’s foundational values of camaraderie mixed with a bit of friendly competition and, of course, the love of watching basketball remain as prominent as ever.
NOT YOUR MOM’S CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
For the LORD is good and his love endures
Ingredients
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
• 1 (4 lb) corned beef brisket with spice packet • 3 qts water • 1 onion, quartered • 3 carrots, cut into large chunks
• 3 celery stalks,
cut into 2-inch pieces
forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
• 1 tsp salt • 2 lbs red potatoes, halved • 1 small head of cabbage, cut into eighths
Directions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine corned beef, spice packet contents, water, onions, carrots, celery, and salt. Bring to a simmer (skimming off any foam on top). 2. Cover pot, reduce to low heat, and let simmer for 3 hours until meat is fork tender. 3. Add potatoes to the pot and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are al dente. 4. Add cabbage along the edges of the meat and on top. Cover and let simmer until cabbage is tender, 20–30 minutes. 5. Place meat on a cutting board and let rest for 10–15 minutes. After meat has cooled, slice against the grain. 6. Add to a large serving bowl, ladle vegetables and broth over top, and serve.
PSALM 100 : 5 NIV
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Light, Sound, and Reducing Brain Strain
1
To File or Not to File?
2
The History of College Basketball’s Rise to Riches Not Your Mom’s Corned Beef and Cabbage
3
K9s For Warriors Is Saving Veterans, One Rescue Dog at a Time
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A Black Lab’s Role in Transforming a Veteran’s Life Scout’s Meaningful Mission
For former U.S. Army Cavalry Scout Ryan Finch, life after his tour of duty was a battlefield of its own. Haunted by PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the weight of his experiences, Ryan struggled to navigate even the simplest moments of daily life. But then Scout came into his life and became a lifeline, a symbol of hope, and a steadfast partner in his journey toward healing. Scout, a vibrant black lab, has done more than help Ryan manage his anxiety; he’s transformed his world. Crowds and loud noises, once overwhelming triggers, are now manageable with Scout by his side. Soccer games, family gatherings, and the everyday joys of life that once seemed impossible are now part of Ryan’s new normal. Scout’s presence allows Ryan to enter spaces he never thought he’d enter again, not as a man weighed down by his past, but as a father, a husband, and a human being rediscovering connection. The story of how Scout came into Ryan’s life feels almost destined. Before his deployment, Ryan and his wife had adopted a black Lab, coincidentally named Scout, who died before Ryan went overseas and whose loss Ryan never truly reconciled as he
was away from home. So, when Ryan arrived at K9s For Warriors, and the trainers introduced him to his new service dog — a black Lab named Scout — it was a moment of profound healing and renewal. It was as if life had come full circle, offering Ryan a second chance at hope. K9s For Warriors is a testament to the life-changing power of service animals. Determined to combat the devastating reality that 20 veterans die by suicide every day, this program rescues and trains dogs to become service animals for veterans grappling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. The result is transformative. Veterans find independence, confidence, and purpose, while rescue dogs gain a life of devotion and meaning. The impact is undeniable. Graduates of the program report mended family relationships, reduced medication reliance, and renewed joy in life. Ryan’s wife has seen the change firsthand, describing her husband as more engaged, animated, and hopeful for the future. Scout symbolizes resilience and proves that an incredible bond can heal even the deepest wounds.
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