• OUR YOUNGEST GENERATIONS ARE FACING A CATCH-22, as social media has become their primary arena to connect and communicate with friends, it is now clearly associated with depressive symptoms and risky behavior. A 3-year research study involving twelve-thousand kids starting at age 9 & 10 found that: (1) Depression symptoms jumped 35% as social media use rose 73 minutes daily over the period; (2) After one year of disrupted sleep and cyberbullying, kids were more likely to experiment with a substance (nearly 5 times with marijuana, 3½ times with nicotine, 2 times with alcohol), along with three times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that “telling kids to ‘get off your phone’ doesn’t really work, so parents should set an example by setting screen-free times for the whole family, such as during meals or before bed.” [UC-SAN FRANCISCO EDU.com]

 

  • REVERSE MORTGAGES ARE AN INCREASINGLY PRUDENT STRATEGY FOR RETIREES. A ‘reverse’ mortgage loan allows homeowners aged 62 and older to access a portion of their home equity as cash for living & retirement, without making any monthly payments during their lifetime; instead, the loan becomes due when they sell the house, move out permanently or pass away, at which point the loan balance plus accrued interest gets repaid from proceeds of the sale. During the process, the homeowner always retains ownership and ability to leave the remaining equity to heirs. Call DCG for courtesy consult on this aspect of Retirement/Estate planning.

 

  • FOR ADULTS ABOVE 50, MAINTAINING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH requires at least moderate-intensity exercise of minimum 150 hours weekly. Latest seven-year research studies found additionally that reducing ‘sitting’ time is a critical factor, since sedentary hours “lead to certain kinds of wear & tear in the brain linked with dementia and Alzheimer, resulting from neurodegeneration (faster thinning of the hippocampus, a part of the brain crucial to memory function). Reducing risk is not just about Working Out once a day.” [SCIENCE ALERT]

 

 

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

 

  • “Differing perspectives and ways of doing things can be an important value, allowing for creativity, individualism and freedom of expression. So why do other person’s do things that frustrate, irritate or upset us? Because people get ‘emotionally attached’ to ideas, with our consciousness determining how structured we like things, our routine and habits. But, both in the workplace and personal life, research shows that “the more flexible we are, abilities are increased to get along with others, have healthier relationships, think critically & outside the box, navigate challenges, and generally be more resilient with greater Emotional Intelligence.” [INC.com]

 

  • Fixating on day-to-day weight level is wasted focus, since daily weight can be affected by several factors all related to the 60% of human bodies which is water, including: (1) fluid retention from a salty or high-carb meal, by compensating for prior evening alcohol dehydration, and simply overnight digestion; (2) muscles holding water from a late day workout and/or muscle build from regular exercise. Actual weight level is best monitored by weekly or monthly trends. [SCIENCE ADVISOR]

 

  • In the final 76 days between election and the new Trump Administration, some $93 billion in loans & commitments  (more than double the total from prior 15 years combined) was handed out by the Department of Energy to companies “with no business plans, no financials, no accountability, a political feeding frenzy of cronyism to whoever showed up with their hand out, including folks with just a promise to develop a business plan later – one of the most brazen abuses of public funds ever seen.”    https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/05/23/joe-bidens-93-billion-scandal-that-no-ones-talking-about-yet-n4940098