A scene from the 2024 Setauket Veterans Day ceremony. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
Each year, November 11 reminds us to thank our military.
The day was born on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — a moment in which the world paused. This was the moment the armistice that ended World War I was signed. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it Armistice Day, a tribute to peace hard-won. Over time, it evolved into what we now know as Veterans Day, but the poignance of that date endures.
Around our coverage areas, numerous celebrations, ceremonies and breakfasts were held honoring the supreme sacrifice of those men and women who were prepared to die for our nation. The ceremonies TBR was fortunate to cover were attended by those young and old. Political differences were nowhere to be found and everyone present wore a genuine smile.
But, TBR would like to take a moment to recognize the often-unsung heroes of Veterans Day — the families of our veterans. While servicemen and women make the sacrifice by enlisting, their families serve as steadfast supporters at home. From moving base to base and enrolling children in different schools to managing the unique challenges of military life, these families make a profound sacrifice, bearing the weight of service as much as, if not more than, the soldiers themselves.
The constant worry, stress and uncertainty make for a challenging journey, yet military families remain the pillars of support and sanctuary that their loved ones long to return to. This unwavering support reassures service members that their decision to enlist was not in vain — that there is something vital to protect at home. Without the resilience and strength of these families and communities, the lives of our servicemen and women could unravel.
So please, thank our veterans. Extend a hand of gratitude for their sacrifice. But don’t forget to show compassion to their families, as well.
Although presents garner most of the fanfare during the holiday season, there is no denying that food and entertaining also figure prominently this time of year. Delish magazine reports that Christmas food consumption ranks third, behind Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday, among Americans, and that a single Christmas meal can weigh in at 3,000 calories, not factoring in any other food consumed that day.
No one wants to feel held back while having fun with family and friends, but smart food choices can mean healthier living during this season of festivities. Dish up these alternatives when holiday entertaining.
• Lean on leaner cuts of meat. A strong body is built on protein, and holiday hosts often make a meat or poultry dish the star of the holiday dinner table. When selecting holiday fare, choose leaner options such as “round” or “loin” roasts; otherwise, select white-fleshed fish and skinless poultry in lieu of other options.
• Use broths instead of creams. Soups and gravies are popular this time of year, and both can be made healthier by opting for stock or broth bases over more fattening milks or creams when creating these recipes.
• Create a one-crust pie. Pie is one of the more popular holiday desserts, and plenty of the calories come from a rich, buttery crust. Lighten up by serving a one-crust pie, such as pumpkin or sweet potato. Fruit-based pies like apple or blueberry also can be made with one crust. Simply top the fruit with a light crumb coating.
• Find ways to incorporate vegetables. Vegetables are low in calories and rich in vitamins and nutrients. Many also are high in fiber, so they can help people avoid overeating. According to dietary experts from the American Heart Association, people should aim for four to five servings of vegetables each day. When making a plate, fill half of the plate with vegetables. Enhance dishes like lasagna or other pastas with fresh vegetables as well. See recipe below.
3. Raise the heat to get rid of any liquid that remains. Drizzle in the lemon juice and serve hot. PC226038
• Skip the fried bird. Although deep-frying a turkey can reduce cooking time, frying historically is not the best cooking method for those who are making health-conscious choices. Rather than frying, consider spatchcocking (also known as butterflying) the turkey to enable it to cook faster. Use fresh herbs and seasonings instead of butter and oil to flavor your turkey as well.
• Skip the cocktails. The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that classic cocktails with little to no added sugar typically fall into the 150- to 200-calorie range, while others can be about 200 to 300 calories each. Many people will want to save those extra calories for dessert or another indulgent dish rather than drinking them away. If you want to simulate a cocktail, make a spritzer with sparkling water and unsweetened cranberry juice.
Broccoli with Five Spices
YIELD: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon black onion seeds (kalonji)
11/4 pounds broccoli, cut into florets
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat the oil and add all the spice seeds.
2. As they pop and darken, add the broccoli, turmeric, and chili powder, and salt. Mix well and pour in a few tablespoons of water. Bring to a sizzle, then reduce the heat and cook until the broccoli is tender but still holds its shape.
Celebrants can make some smart choices in the foods and beverages they eat to enjoy a healthier holiday season this November and December.
Participants of last year's Human Library event.
Photo by Rachael Eyler, Stony Brook University
By Daniel Dunaief
Stony Brook University is providing another opportunity for students and the community to venture beyond the labels that define and, at times, limit our views and understanding of each other.
Chris Kretz
For the second year, the university is hosting the Human Library, which gives participants an opportunity to learn about other people’s lives.
Started in 2000 in Denmark, the Human Library brings “books” (people from different walks of life, which has included a refugee, disabled parent, and person with bipolar disorder) with “readers,” who have a chance to ask questions for 30 minutes with each book.
The chapters these books share has surprised readers and given them a chance to reconsider how they view people whose lives or life experiences are different from their own.
“It’s not meant to teach people something or have them leave being converted to some new thought process,” said Chris Kretz, Head of Academic Engagement at Stony Brook University Libraries. “It gives [readers] an opportunity to speak with someone they may never normally encounter or have a conversation they may not get to have.”
The Human Library event occurs on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from noon to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library’s Central Reading Room. Participants don’t need to pre-register and can show up at the library, where about 110 readers visited last year.
Kretz recommended the latter session for interested community members, which would allow them to park for free to attend the event.
Following the defined structure created by the original Human Library, attendees won’t know about the specific backgrounds of the books until they arrive. The people that represent the books will all sit at desks wearing the same black t- shirts.
“In the conversation, the colors come out,” Kretz said.
Indeed, Richard Tomczak, Director of Faculty Engagement in the Division of Undergraduate Education at SBU and a reader at last year’s Human Library, can attest to that. Tomczak spoke with a book who grew up in the outer boroughs of New York as a member of the working class.
“When you’re having a conversation about shared experiences or experiences that are new to you, it brings out the human characteristics,” said Tomczak. “I wanted to listen and absorb it all.”
Choosing a book
When readers sit down, the book offers a prologue about their lives, providing some details about their experiences. Readers who aren’t sure where to start asking questions or perusing through different chapters in the book can use prompts at each desk to begin their interaction. Readers who stay for an entire sessionwill be able to interact with three or four books.
Participants of last year’s Human Library event. Photo by Rachael Eyler, Stony Brook University
“This is an opportunity for people to hone their conversational skills,” said Kretz, as well as to learn about the lives of the books who are offering details that may surprise and move the readers.
Indeed, this year, the university is stocking tissues near each book for those readers who may feel particularly touched by the stories they hear.
The university would like to ensure that the conversation is respectful and that both sides are comfortable with the discussion.
“We have rules for readers,’ said Kretz. “When they sit down with the book, the pages are in mint condition. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page. Books don’t necessarily have to answer every question.”
Kretz urged attendees to recognize that the interaction is not a debate, but presents ways for people to understand more about their own judgments and, as the Human Library website suggests, to “unjudge” each other. In addition to speaking and asking questions, readers and the books will have a chance to process what they’ve heard.
“By design, it’s a session where you have to listen,” said Kretz. “One of the values is that people get a chance to practice this muscle.”
Second year
In the second iteration of the Human Library, Stony Brook added the later time so people could come after work. The administrators have also reached out to journalism classes and to people in international programs.
Students from other countries will “have a chance to meet people they wouldn’t have met” during their time abroad, Kretz added.
After speaking with the people who served as books last year, Stony Brook heard that the books also wanted to serve as readers of some of the other people’s lives.
University officials were pleased with the exercise last year.
“I’m impressed by how open our community was,” said Kretz. “People learned a great deal from listening to each other.”
The university is considering making this an ongoing annual tradition and might even bring people together each semester.
Other New York schools and libraries have embraced the Human Library process, including Adelphi and SUNY Albany. The Human Library has also caught on globally, as people in 85 countries on six continents have helped facilitate these conversations.
While the participants engage in meaningful discussion, the exchange isn’t designed to create a lasting social network or lead to ongoing connections between the readers and the books.
“It’s not meant for them at the end of the reading to shake hands and exchange business cards,” explained Kretz.
The event is sponsored by the University Libraries and the DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility) Team with the Division of Student Affairs, Office of Diversity Inclusion and Intercultural Initiative, Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, and Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement, and the Program in Public Health.
On Thanksgiving, after the turkey and gravy and an assortment of sides have been cleaned off the plate, there’s always room for dessert. Here are two classic pie recipes that everyone one will gobble over.
Apple Pie
Recipe courtesy of Family Features
Apple Pie
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 refrigerated pie crusts
1 large egg, beaten
6 to 7 cups apples, peeled and sliced, about 2 pounds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄2 up granulated sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 F. Peel apples and cut in quarters. Remove the core and slice apples into 1⁄4-inch to 1⁄8-inch thick. In a large bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss well to combine and set aside. Roll half of the dough into a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry dough. Fill with apple filling.
Roll the remaining crust and gently place it over the apple mixture. Seal the edges by gently pinching the top and bottom crusts together. You can fold or decorate the edges by crimping or pressing with a fork. Remove any excess dough. Beat the egg and 2 teaspoons of water or milk. Cut 4 to 5 slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Brush with egg mixture and sprinkle with sugar (optional).
Bake at 425 F for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 375 F, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender.
Pecan Pie
Recipe courtesy of Lines+Angles
Pecan Pie
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 9-inch unbaked frozen deep dish pie shell, thawed
11⁄2cups pecans, coarsely chopped
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1⁄2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons flour
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread pecans along the bottom of the prepared pie shell. In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients and pour over pecans. The pecans will rise to the surface of the pie. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes until the filling has set. Pie is done when the center reaches 200 F. Pie center when lightly tapped should spring back. Remove pie from oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving.
Welcome to the 35th edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home.
Jayna
Meet Jayna
This adorable two-year-old Yorkie mixat Little Shelter in Huntington loves toys, attention, and a world without boundaries! While new on the scene, she’s already made an impression and won several hearts with her spunky attitude. This little whirlwind has been stirring up all the possibilities that lie ahead for her bright future, including a forever home. Outgoing and social, she’s ready to interview prospective candidates, so you’ll want to be first in line for this happy, affectionate girl who checks all the boxes…her name is Jayna! 631-368-8770
Flap Jack
Meet Flap Jack
This special needs kitten at the Smithtown Animal Shelter needs a very special home. Flap Jack was born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a condition that affects motors skills and coordination. His mobility is pretty compromised, but this smart boy uses his litter box and gets to his food like a champ. He has a fully functioning purr box that he keeps on full blast at all times and is all love, affection, spunk and determination. He needs the perfect home that will understand and support his mobility issues. 631-360-757
Crow
Meet Crow
This beautiful boy has been at Save A Pet in Port Jefferson Station for almost two years! Look at this big goofy guy! Crow is a 3-year-old pit bull and a Southern gentleman. He had a rough start in life and came to New York emaciated, with heart worm disease. He even had buckshot removed from him. Instead of being treated with love, he was target practice for the locals. Crow was robbed of his puppyhood and was instead abused, and discarded.He holds no grudges and is now a gorgeous Northern gentleman.Crow is big and strong but has been a star in obedience at the shelter. He gets along with most dogs but may chase cats and would do well in a home with older children. Come meet him today! 631-473-6333
Frankie
Meet Frankie
This charming 10-year-old cockapoo at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter is ready to find his forever home! Surrendered when his owner could no longer care for him, this spirited senior still has plenty of spunk. Frankie loves to zoom around, chasing tennis balls and engaging in playful antics that will keep you smiling. This sweet boy also adores his stuffies and is house-trained and crate-trained, making him a perfect addition to your family.
Frankie walks well on a leash and is eager to explore the great outdoors—he’d thrive in a home with a yard. He would do best in a home with older children (16 and up) and may enjoy a calmer canine companion, but a meet-and-greet is essential to ensure everyone gets along. If you’re looking for a delightful companion to share your golden years with, Frankie is ready to bring joy and laughter into your life. Come meet this lovable boy and see how he can brighten your days! 631-451-6955
Miss Beautiful
Meet Miss Beautiful
Hello gorgeous! Waiting at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton for her furever home, Miss Beautiful is appropriately named. A long-haired beauty from Georgia, she is 5 years old and weighs 7 pounds.Her owner passed away leaving many cats behind. She came to Kent hoping to find a new family to love her. She is very shy and the shelter staff thinks she is still mourning the loss of her home and family. She comes out of her condo to explore when no one is around and is very vocal about it. She enjoys human attention, welcoming neck scratches and lap time. Miss Beautiful would probably do best in a quiet home with lots of attention. Will that be with you? 631-727-5731, ext. 1
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
Did you know? November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month and the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter, 300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven is offering free adoptions for all pets aged 5 and up (including Frankie!!) through November 30. Apply with their Matchmaker application (www.brookhavenny.gov/153/Adoptions) today and find the perfect companion.
Rescue is a lifestyle. Adopt, don’t shop.
Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of December 12.
Paw Prints is generously sponsored by Mark T. Freeley, Esq.
My wife and I have visited with another couple, whom I’ll call Ben and Jill, several times through the years. We’ve attended sporting events and chatted at meals in different cities.
They are both pleasant and agreeable and seem pleased to reconnect with us each time.
Recently, we had an unhurried dinner where the stories went from the routine to the sublime.
Jill is worried about her second son, who is working incredibly long hours and doesn’t seem to have much, or any, work-life balance.
Her husband Ben, who is in a similar line of work to their son, worked incredibly long hours in the first years of their marriage, too.
Indeed, back in his day, Ben would work all day, come home to take a shower while a car service waited outside and then would return to work, without so much as a meal or a rest.
“I wasn’t as worried about Ben,” she said, as she spent her waking hours taking care of three children who required her considerable attention.
Like many other parents of children in the 30-ish range, Jill is eagerly waiting for her oldest son, who has been in a relationship for years, has purchased a house with his girlfriend and shares custody of a dog, to take those next steps that would not only net her a daughter-in-law but would also bring her grandchildren.
“Honestly,” she shrugged, “I thought I’d be a grandparent by now.”
Speaking of grandparents and grandchildren, Jill shared that her grandfather died last year at the age of 105.
Doing quick math, I realized that he was born the year before the Spanish Influenza of 1919 and died after the end of Covid, which means that he was one of probably a select few who lived through two pandemics in different centuries.
He had served in World War II in Washington state as a code breaker and was a widower for the last few decades of his life.
When her grandfather was 90, he needed heart surgery. Doctors wouldn’t normally perform such a procedure on a 90-year old, but they said he was much more like a typical, healthy 80 year-old.
They put a device in his heart that was supposed to last 10 years. When her grandfather reached 101, the device faltered and he had sepsis. This, the family thought, could be the end of his long life. He rebounded, however, and lived another four years, enduring vision limited in part by reduced visits to the ophthalmologist during Covid.
The conversation turned to baseball, as Ben and Jill are avid Mets fans.
I told them my memories from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, when I was living in the Boston area and was surrounded by giddy Red Sox fans on the verge of their first championship since 1918.
Ben’s eyes lit up and he told us that he and Jill attended Game 7 of that series.
No, they hadn’t purchased tickets. They knew two people who had worked at Shea Stadium as vendors, but hadn’t worked in a while. They borrowed their vendor badges, which didn’t have their names or pictures on them, arrived at Shea two hours before the game started, and casually walked through the gate.
When they sat down in left field seats, a security guard asked them what they were doing there and they said they worked at the ice cream vendor in left field. The security guard informed them that there were no ice cream vendors in that area. They considered leaving, but instead hid in a stair well until the crowds came in.
They found an usher who allowed them to sit on the concrete steps — empty seats were unlikely in a winner-take-all game — and watched the Mets come back to clinch the title.
Whenever anyone asks Ben to share something people don’t know about him, he relates the story of their bold and successful effort to watch live the last Mets team to win a World Series.
This is an invitation for you, readers of our newspapers, viewers of our website, followers of us on social media and listeners to our podcast. We encourage you to send us nominations for our special edition, People of the Year.
Many of you know that we publish People of the Year, filled with the exploits of local “heroes,” who go the extra mile to make our communities the wonderful places they are, between Christmas and New Year.
These are people who live or work or in some way directly affect our lives here. They don’t just do their jobs well. They go far beyond what is expected of them, and in so doing, improve our lives.
We solicit these names from you because you know who they are, whether from the cohort of government workers to the unstinting volunteer on your block. By putting the spotlight on them and their unselfish efforts, we make their work a little easier.
Plus, no matter who they are, it feels good to be appreciated.
So think about who helps our villages and towns the most. They can be in any field: healthcare, the economy, elected officials, business people, the arts, science, civics, historical societies, service organizations, education, sports and more.
And don’t tell them you told us. We like to surprise them when we publish their stories the last week in December.
Relatively small amounts of exercise lead to big benefits
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
Last week, I had a conversation with a vibrant, independent 96-year-old, who was excited to share her thoughts about the current election cycle.
It’s becoming more common to live into your 90s: according to the National Institutes of Health, those who were more than 90 years old increased by 2.5 times over a 30-year period from 1980 to 2010 in the U.S. (1). Researchers refer to this group as the “oldest-old,” which includes those over age 84.
What do these “oldest-old” have in common? According to one study, they tend to have fewer chronic medical conditions or diseases. As a result, they typically have greater physical functioning and mental acuity, which allows them a better quality of life (2).
A study of centenarians found that they tended to be healthy and then die rapidly, without prolonged suffering (3). In other words, they stayed mobile and mentally alert.
While genetics are a factor that can predict your ability to reach this exclusive club, lifestyle choices also play an important role. Let’s look at the research.
Does exercise really help extend our lives?
We’re repeatedly nudged to exercise. This is not vanity; it can have a direct impact on our longevity and health.
One study of over 55,000 participants from ages 18 to 100 showed that five-to-ten minutes of daily running, regardless of the pace, can significantly impact our life span by decreasing cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality (4).
Amazingly, even if participants ran fewer than six miles a week at a pace slower than 10-minute miles, and even if they ran only one to two days a week, there was still a decrease in mortality compared to nonrunners. Those who ran for this very limited amount of time and modest pace potentially added three years to their life span.
An editorial that accompanied this study shared that more than 50 percent of people in the U.S. do not achieve the current recommendation of at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day (5).
One study of over a quarter-million people found that walking just 3867 steps a day started to reduce the risk of dying from any cause, and every additional 1000 steps reduced risk of death from all causes another 15 percent (6). The researchers could not find an upper limit to the benefits.
For those 85 and older, all-cause mortality risk was reduced 40 percent by walking just 60 minutes a week at a pace that qualified as physical activity, not even exercise.
What is the best protein source?
Many are questioning the value of a long-standing dietary paradigm that suggests we need to eat sufficient animal protein to support us as we age.
In an observational study of 7,000 participants from ages 50 to 65, researchers found that those who ate a high-protein diet with greater than 20 percent of their calories from protein had a had a 75 percent increase in overall mortality, a four-times increased risk of cancer mortality, and a four-times increased risk of dying from diabetes during the following 18 years (7).
However, this did not hold true if plants were the protein source. Interestingly, they found a high-protein plant diet may actually reduce the risks, not increase them. The reason, according to the authors, is that animal protein may increase insulin growth factor-1 and growth hormones that have detrimental effects on the body.
The Adventists Health Study 2 of over 73,000 participants with a median age of 57 years reinforced these findings (8). It looked at Seventh-day Adventists, a group that emphasizes a plant-based diet, and found that those who ate animal protein once a week or less experienced a significantly reduced risk of dying over the next six years compared to those who were more frequent meat eaters.
What does systemic inflammation tellus about longevity?
The Whitehall II study included 3,044 participants over the age of 35 who did not have a stroke, heart attack or cancer at the beginning of the study (9). Researchers measured a specific marker for inflammation, interleukin-6 (IL-6). They found that higher levels had negative impacts on participants’ healthy longevity. If participants had elevated IL-6 (>2.0 ng/L) at both baseline and at the end of the 10-year follow-up period, their probability of healthy aging decreased by almost half. The good news is that inflammation can be improved significantly with lifestyle changes.
The bottom line is that lifestyle choices are important to healthy longevity. A small amount of exercise and consuming more plant protein than animal protein can contribute to a substantial increase in healthy life span. IL-6 may be a useful marker for inflammation, which could help predict healthy or unhealthy outcomes. Your doctor can test to see if you have an elevated IL-6. If you do, lifestyle modifications may be able to reduce these levels.
References:
(1) nia.nih.gov. (2) J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57:432-440. (3) Future of Genomic Medicine (FoGM) VII. Presented March 7, 2014. (4) J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64:472-481. (5) J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64:482-484. (6) Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2023 Dec 21;30(18):2045. (7) Cell Metab. 2014;19:407-417. (8) JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173:1230-1238. (9) CMAJ. 2013;185:E763-E770.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.
As we enter the holiday season, your life may well become busier. Still, you might want to take the time to consider some financial moves before we turn the calendar to 2025.
Here are a few suggestions:
Review your investment portfolio. As you look at your portfolio, ask these questions: Has its performance met my expectations this year? Does it still reflect my goals, risk tolerance and time horizon? Do I need to rebalance? You might find that working with a financial professional can help you answer these and other questions you may have about your investments.
Add to your 401(k) and HSA. If you can afford it, and your employer allows it, consider putting more money into your 401(k) before the year ends — including “catch-up” contributions if you’re 50 or older. You might also want to add to your health savings account (HSA) by the tax-filing deadline in April.
Use your FSA dollars. Unlike an HSA, a flexible spending account (FSA) works on a “use-it-or-lose-it” basis, meaning you lose any unspent funds at the end of the year. So, if you still have funds left in your account, try to use them up in 2024. (Employers may grant a 2½ month extension, so check with your human resources area to see if this is the case where you work.)
Contribute to a 529 plan. If you haven’t opened a 529 education savings plan for your children, think about doing so this year. With a 529 plan, your earnings can grow tax deferred, and your withdrawals are federally tax free when used for qualified education expenses — tuition, fees, books and so on. And if you invest in your own state’s 529 plan, you might be able to deduct your contributions from your state income tax or receive a state tax credit.
Build your emergency fund. It’s generally a good idea to keep up to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, with the money held in a liquid, low-risk account. Without such a fund in place, you might be forced to dip into your retirement funds to pay for short-term needs, such as a major car or home repair.
Review your estate plans. If you’ve experienced any changes in your family situation this year, such as marriage, remarriage or the birth of a child, you may want to update your estate-planning documents to reflect your new situation. It’s also important to look at the beneficiary designations on your investment accounts, retirement plans, IRAs and insurance policies, as these designations can sometimes even supersede the instructions you’ve left in your will. And if you haven’t started estate planning, there’s no time like the present.
Take your RMDs. If you’re 73 or older, you will likely need to take withdrawals — called required minimum distributions, or RMDs — from some of your retirement accounts, such as your traditional IRA. If you don’t take these withdrawals each year, you could be subject to penalties.
These aren’t the only moves you can make, but they may prove helpful not only for 2024 but in the years to come.
Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook, Member SIPC.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
A male mouse embryo surrounded by a group of female embryos during development in some cases is protected against developmental delays caused by a viral infection of their mother.
That’s one of a host of intriguing observations and findings from a recent set of experiments conducted by postdoctoral researcher Irene Sanchez Martin, who works in the lab of Assistant Professor Lucas Cheadle at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Irene Sanchez Martin and Lucas Cheadle at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Photo by Justin Park
Sanchez Martin is studying how maternal exposure to viruses triggers immune responses, particularly inflammation, which can contribute to developmental delays characteristic of autism.
In mice as in humans, males are much more susceptible to the onset of the kinds of neurological developmental behaviors that are characteristic of autism than their female counterparts.
“The advantage of our model is that it helps us understand why this happens, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms driving this increased vulnerability in males,” Sanchez Martin explained.
Researchers have been studying viral exposure and developmental disorders for a while. The new element in Sanchez Martin’s research is that she can observe phenotypic changes as early as 24 hours after a pregnant mouse is exposed to a virus, providing a much earlier window into how maternal immune activation affects development.
At an early stage of gestation, when sensory organs, the head, spine and other organs are starting to develop, the male mice demonstrate disruptions in normal development, which affects these structures in different ways. Sanchez Martin hopes these kinds of studies help uncover the pathways through which environmental factors contribute to the development of some cases of autism.
Sanchez Martin’s work is part of a broader effort in Cheadle’s research.
“My lab is interested in understanding how interactions between the nervous system and the immune system shape the development and plasticity of the brain,” Cheadle explained. One goal is to understand how systemic inflammation during prenatal stages leads to heightened risk of autism in offspring.
To be sure, the genetic component suggests that inflammation is not necessary for the development of autism. Nevertheless, exposure to prenatal inflammation can increase autism risk by about three times, making inflammation a likely “key contributor to the development of autism in some, but not all, individuals,” said Cheadle.
Sanchez Martin found that female mice did not develop the same changes as males. She believes this is one of the most valuable applications of the model she’s working on with Cheadle, as it can reveal the biological and developmental differences that contribute to this gender disparity.
Timing
Sanchez Martin studied mice that were exposed to a virus between 12 to 13 days after fertilization, which is similar to the end of the first trimester in a human embryo. Mice develop more rapidly, so the process doesn’t track exactly the same as it would in humans.
About a day after the maternal exposure, some males looked different through ultrasound than they would during typical development. The differences are subtle and it is still too early to assume these changes could serve as a diagnostic marker for autism spectrum disorder.
A host of disruptions could affect the growth of the embryo. The placenta serves as a bridge between the mother and the developing embryo, allowing communication, filtering substances, and protecting the embryo during development. Each mouse embryo has its own placenta and its own amniotic fluid in its amniotic sac, creating a unique microenvironment.
In her lab work, Sanchez Martin is collaborating with Dr. Brian Kalish at Boston Children’s Hospital, who is helping to analyze molecular changes in the placentas of affected and unaffected embryos. Sanchez Martin has data indicating differences between the placentas of affected and healthy individuals, as well as in the amniotic fluid.
“This suggests a dysfunction in the placenta in affected cases” indicating it is not adequately performing its protective and filtering function, she explained.
Female mouse embryos may be more protected in part because of their more active immune response. Other studies have shown that female immune systems, as early as the developmental stage, express higher levels of interferon-stimulated genes and have stronger responses to infections, which may offer better protection than males.
While male mice in some cases benefit from the protection provided by their nearby sisters, Sanchez Martin and Cheadle are “still working to fully understand the underlying mechanism,” she explained.
Epidemiology
By looking at the prevalence of conditions such as autism in the aftermath of larger viral infections, researchers have demonstrated that these illnesses can and do have impacts on the incidence of autism and schizophrenia, among other conditions. It’s not only the pathogen that is responsible, but also the immune response triggered by the infection, as well as the timing of the infection during pregnancy.
Covid, which infected over 100 million Americans, may cause an increase in the number of children born with autism.
“There is precedent from studies of other viral infections during pregnancy, which suggest that maternal immune activation can contribute to altered neurodevelopment in offspring,” Sanchez Martin said. “There is some evidence that male children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy might have a slightly elevated risk of other neurodevelopmental disorders.”
Additional research with longer-term follow up is necessary to confirm these findings. The timing and the immune response during pregnancy could be key factors in determining the outcomes.
Cheadle appreciated the effort and dedication of Sanchez Martin, whom he described as being “bright, talented, motivated and an excellent experimentalist. Her work is among the most important projects in the lab.”
From Madrid to CSHL
Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Sanchez Martin has been a master of motion. During her final years of her Veterinary Medicine studies at Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Madrid, she moved to the University of Helsinki to complete her clinical rotations.
She later earned her PhD at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Marseille, France and defended her thesis at the Aix- Marseille University. During her PhD, she was a visiting student at Biocenter Oulu in Finland.
Her first job was at Laboklin in Bad Kissingen, Germany, where she worked in a clinical laboratory.
She did her first postdoctoral research in the Microbiology Department at Mount Sinai. During the pandemic, she was involved in studying innate and adaptive immune responses in different in vitro models, focusing on vaccine candidates for Covid-19 and influenza.
A resident of Manhattan, Sanchez Martin has contributed to Cheadle’s lab for two years.
She enjoys listening to classical music, reading, and swimming, which she likes to do several times a week as she has some of her best ideas when she’s in the water.
As for her work, Sanchez Martin appreciates the opportunity to conduct her research as a part of Cheadle’s team that is hoping to identify the molecular mechanisms that contribute to autism in mice.
“It’s an ongoing effort and we hope that with time and collaboration, we can gain more insight,” she explained.
YIELD: Serves 4
Welcome to the 35th edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home.
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