Welcome to episode 35 of Bright Ones. The sunny podcast that points out little daily missed moments that uplift your day! Get that nose ready as we go off to sniff today’s good news! SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF! Watch Stanley Tucci’s show “Searching for Italy” and one thing becomes quite clear. Food isn’t just sustenance. Cooking to feed yourself and others is medicinal and brings good people together! Today we have proof that doing so is beneficial to more than the soul! It can improve one’s mind! A study from Japan followed 11,000 elderly people’s cognitive health for 6 years and the results are clear. Preparing meals at least once a week cut the risk of dementia by at least 30% and maybe as much as 70%! Creating an environment where people can cook, especially when they are older is important. Maybe it’s the food that helps. It could also be the act of doing so strengthens the brain. Or perhaps having a reason to prepare something real makes you healthier! Whichever the reason it’s clear that the world’s a better place if keep on cooking! I don’t mind a good bowl of kibble but home cooked table scraps really gives my nub of a tail a good wag!

Keeping on the theme of good news for your brain. You may be able to learn while you sleep! Even when in a coma or under general anesthesia while you do not actively perceive thoughts and feel zero pain, parts of your brain keep on working. The “grammar” part of your mind keeps on listening and processing words. It’s unclear what affect exactly this means but this is good news for coma patients who get visitors who keep talking to them. Listening to the words of loved ones seem to matter! I for one anticipate the day while I can learn rocket science while dreaming of chasing bunnies! Today’s takeaway is to keep cooking, keep talking, and keep learning... even if your eyes are closed and you’re wearing those old pajamas with little rockets on them. Until next time, keep a little room for good news in your day and like me TRY to be a good boy WOOF!