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Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today: A look at why failing is so integral to succeeding; New research looks at Omega-3 supplements and cognitive decline; and a Japanese radio show that’s 100 years old!

Let’s get into it!

Failing often isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because it often demonstrates perseverance and a will to succeed. The true failure is giving up.

As Thomas Edison famously stated, “I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving 700 ways how not to build a lightbulb.” Then he invented the lightbulb.

The more someone has failed, the more hardship they are likely able to endure, just based on the fact that they’ve continued to endure it with each passing failure.

In recent years, social psychologists have flagged that young people are becoming increasingly fragile due to a lack of exposure to hardship or failure. Over a period of nearly two decades, it ultimately led to the most anxious generation ever.

Anticipatory anxiety is more likely to be felt by those who haven’t tried whatever they’re anxious over. The cliches on this topic are endless, but are often fully applicable. “Take a leap,” or “I just needed a little push,” or “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” etc.

“The most successful among us are the people who have failed the most,” according to evolutionary psychologist Glen Geher. Thinking about each failure as a stepping stone to success is something most adults intellectually know they should do.

Some say it’s easier said than done. Some say “why?” Others ask, “why not?”

According to a study published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, though many older adults often take omega-3 oral capsules to maintain cognitive health, the supplements may actually speed up cognitive decline.

The Chinese researchers analyzed data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), including the brain scans of 273 omega-3 users and a control group of 546 non-users.

They found cognitive decline was accelerated in the first group, and were able to rule out genetic predisposition because both groups had the same number of people presenting the APOE-4 gene, which is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s risk.

They found those in the omega-3 group displayed a drop in brain glucose metabolism, a process potentially caused by the regular consumption of the supplements, and one that blunts communication between brain cells.

"Omega-3 supplementation may be associated with accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, potentially through adverse effects on cerebral synaptic function rather than classical AD proteinopathies," the study authors wrote, while noting the findings weren’t necessarily conclusive.

"These findings challenge the prevailing view of omega-3 as uniformly beneficial and highlight the need for a cautious reassessment of its widespread use for cognitive protection."

Is it possible that something as simple as a ten-minute morning radio program is responsible for the health and wellbeing of millions of people?

While surely not the sole reason for the longevity of the Japanese, there’s something to be said for the impact of Radio Taiso. In English, it simply means “Exercise Radio,” and millions get up in Japan every morning for the 6:30 a.m. broadcast.

Initially launched in 1928, the show lasts just over ten minutes, and isn’t just an exercise guide, but also something of a musical interlude. Piano music plays softly in the background as listeners are encouraged to begin what’s essentially an aerobic dance routine.

According to the Associated Press, the movements include: “reach to the sky to limber up, twist at the torso, bend at the hips, swing the arms and get the shoulders loose, or jump or run in place.”

It’s typically also a group activity, which encourages social bonding and meaningfulness—two important keys to longevity.

“I get up a 5 a.m. anyway,” said Kenji Iguchi, 83. “I come to the park about 6 and do a round of walking ahead of the Radio Taiso session. Most of the faces are familiar, and coming here and getting together with them is also one of the things I look forward to.”

Dolly Parton announced she’s cancelling her Las Vegas residency after postponing it last year due to health reasons.

In a video posted on social media, she provided details indicating she’s doing alright, but not quite up to where she’d need to be to get back on stage and deliver performances at a level worthy of the queen of country.

“I have some good news and a little bad news. But the good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day,” Dolly said.

“Now, the bad news is, it’s going to take me a little while before I’m up to stage-performance level, because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swimmy headed, as my grandma used to say. And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars, and such on five inch heels, and you know that I’m going to be wearing them,” she said.

She noted problems she’d had with kidney stones in the past, and other internal issues that she jokingly mused couldn’t be dealt with by leveraging the magic of plastic surgery.

She also shared a few other details about the work she is still getting to do before apologizing to fans for the Vegas cancellation and then concluding the video in textbook Dolly fashion.

“I will always love you,” she said. You can watch the full post here.

It’s ’79 and you’re lookin’ fine

We’re taking a look back to this week in 1979, with today’s trivia!