Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Good Morning! 🌞

Dementia isn’t just a distant worry—it’s one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. While there’s no cure, researchers are making progress in understanding how lifestyle choices may help reduce the risk. In today’s issue, we’re featuring a new study that sheds light on potential ways to protect your brain before the damage starts.

Health Science

Preventing Dementia

A new study analyzing data from over 90,000 adults confirms that adopting a healthier diet—even in midlife—can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Researchers from the University of Hawaii found that people over 45 who followed the MIND diet—a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets—were significantly less likely to develop cognitive decline. The MIND diet emphasizes leafy greens, berries, nuts, fish, and olive oil, all of which have been linked to better brain function and reduced inflammation.

The most notable benefit came from people who improved their eating habits over time. Participants who more closely followed the MIND diet had a 9% lower overall risk of dementia, with that figure rising to 13% among African American, Latino, and White participants. Even more striking, individuals who weren’t following the diet at the start of the study but improved their adherence over the course of a decade saw a 25% lower risk of developing dementia—highlighting the power of gradual, sustained dietary change.

However, the protective effects weren’t uniform. The benefits were less pronounced among Asian American participants and weakest among Native Hawaiians, suggesting that genetic and cultural factors may influence how diet affects brain health. Presented by Dr. Song-Yi Park at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting on June 2 in Orlando, the study offers a hopeful message. “It’s not too late to make changes,” Park said. “Diet matters—and improving it can have a real impact on your brain health.”

History

100-Year Old Cannery

When you think of gourmet delicacies, canned sardines probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind—unless you’re in Portugal. In this video, we take a flavorful deep dive into one of the country’s most beloved traditions: fish canning.

Our journey leads us to Conservas Pinhais, a historic preserving factory that’s been hand-packing sardines since 1920. Yep—no machines, just skilled hands and century-old techniques. This artisanal gem produces a whopping 30,000 cans a day, but each tin tells a story of patience, pride, and Portuguese heritage. From the glittering scales of freshly caught sardines to the vibrant retro packaging, you’ll see why these tiny tins are more than just pantry staples—they're icons of craftsmanship. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or just sardine-curious, this video will reel you in.

🐟 Watch it now and find out why in Portugal, sardines aren’t just eaten—they’re celebrated.

Environment

A Survivor!

Dilly Dally, a sea turtle rescued off the coast of Port St. Lucie, has returned to the ocean after surviving a shark attack and undergoing a partial flipper amputation. In January, the Inwater Research Group brought her ashore and transferred her to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. Veterinarians treated severe injuries to her front right flipper, believed to have been caused by a shark—the only natural predator of adult sea turtles. Despite intensive antibiotic treatment, the flipper could not be saved and was surgically removed.

Over the next five months, Dilly Dally adapted to life with just one front flipper—an impressive feat, as front flippers are essential for propulsion while rear flippers are mainly used for steering. After completing rehabilitation, she was released last Wednesday at high tide. A video from Loggerhead Marinelife Center shows four women carrying her to the shore in a plastic tub. After a brief crawl across the sand, she entered the water, a satellite tracker antenna fixed to her shell.

Dilly Dally is now the first three-flippered turtle the center has ever equipped with a satellite tag. “So now Dilly Dally has an active live satellite tag on her and we can get real-time data on where she goes, which is really exciting because we don’t really know what happens to our three flipper turtles once you release them,” said Marika Weber, a vet tech involved in Dilly Dally’s care. “Now we know if their migration or foraging patterns change and it’ll be really helpful to see what happens to these patients.” Sea turtles are known to thrive even with one limb missing, and with that in mind, Dilly Dally was cleared for release.

Support Daily Upsider!

Help our mission to share positive, meaningful news! Your support keeps us going without the need to bombard you with annoying ads!

Mind Stretchers

⁉️

I stand still but slowly fade,
Giving light while I'm unmade.
The more I work, the less you'll see—
Until there's nothing left of me.
What am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

— to and fro! Chris Hostetler got this correct first! 🌞 

Be 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 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.