Latest news with #Salinas
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Want to boost brain health? Scientists recommed finding a person with THIS quality
Having someone who listens attentively may significantly boost cognitive resilience, according to a recent study. Researchers found that adults with readily available listeners demonstrated better cognitive function, even with age-related brain volume loss. This social support could potentially slow cognitive aging and delay Alzheimer's symptoms. Keeping the brain sharp is crucial for overall well-being. From cognition, memory, and emotional regulation, a healthy brain plays a key role in how we function daily. While we often turn to puzzles, exercise, and diet to maintain brain health, scientists now say something much simpler, yet often overlooked, could be just as powerful: having someone who listens! A study published in JAMA Network found a link between having someone you can count on to listen to you when you need to talk, with improved cognitive resilience. A person who is all ears According to the study, adults who have access to a good listener, a person who is available most or all of the time to provide emotional support, show significantly better cognitive resilience. This interaction will help the brain from declining, even with aging or diseases like Alzheimer's. 'We think of cognitive resilience as a buffer to the effects of brain aging and disease. This study adds to growing evidence that people can take steps, either for themselves or the people they care about most, to increase the odds they'll slow down cognitive aging or prevent the development of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease—something that is all the more important given that we still don't have a cure for the disease,' lead researcher Joel Salinas said. About 5 million people in America are living with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive condition that affects mostly those over 65. This condition interferes with memory, language, decision-making, and the ability to live independently. Salinas added that the results of this study indicate that people younger than 65 would benefit from social support. For every unit of brain volume loss, people in their 40s and 50s who had fewer listeners showed cognitive abilities similar to someone four years older than those who had more listeners. 'These four years can be incredibly precious. Too often, we think about how to protect our brain health when we're much older, after we've already lost a lot of time decades before to build and sustain brain-healthy habits. But today, right now, you can ask yourself if you truly have someone available to listen to you in a supportive way, and ask your loved ones the same. Taking that simple action sets the process in motion for you to ultimately have better odds of long-term brain health and the best quality of life you can have,' Salinas said. The study Researchers analyzed data from 2,171 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, one of the longest-running community-based studies in the U.S., with an average participant age of 63. The participants self-reported about the various types of social support they have, including access to someone who listens, offers good advice, and provides emotional support. The cognitive resilience of the participants was measured as the relative effect of total cerebral brain volume on global cognition, using MRI scans and neuropsychological assessments. Lower brain volumes tend to be associated with lower cognitive function. The researchers examined the modifying effect of individual forms of social support on the relationship between cerebral volume and cognitive performance. They found that the cognitive function of individuals with greater availability of one specific form of social support was higher relative to their total cerebral volume. This particular form of 'social support' was the availability of a listener, and it was linked with increased cognitive resilience. What you should do 'Loneliness is one of the many symptoms of depression, and has other health implications for patients. These kinds of questions about a person's social relationships and feelings of loneliness can tell you a lot about a patient's broader social circumstances, their future health, and how they're really doing outside of the clinic,' Salinas said. Researchers noted that further study is required for further understanding of the biological mechanisms that link psychosocial factors to brain health. 'While there is still a lot that we don't understand about the specific biological pathways between psychosocial factors like listener availability and brain health, this study gives clues about concrete, biological reasons why we should all seek good listeners and become better listeners ourselves,' Salinas concluded. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet Anushka Salinas: The CEO Behind Leading Parenting Tech Company Nanit
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Welcome to Second Life, a podcast spotlighting successful women who've made major career changes—and fearlessly mastered the pivot. Hosted by Hillary Kerr, co-founder and chief content officer at Who What Wear, each episode gives you a direct line to women who are game changers in their fields. Subscribe to Second Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts to stay tuned. Anushka Salinas' career journey is the epitome of a second life. As the new CEO of parenting tech company Nanit, she has built a career defined by her ability to blend passion, business acumen, and innovation. Her journey began in a completely different industry: fashion. Salinas started at Lord & Taylor as an assistant buyer, a role that perfectly married her love for fashion with her fascination for the data and strategy driving the industry. As she grew eager to deepen her business expertise, Salinas pursued an MBA, which led her to meet Jenn Hyman and Jenny Fleiss, the founders of Rent the Runway. She was intrigued—and incredibly inspired—by its revolutionary clothing rental concept, and she saw an opportunity to work at the intersection of fashion and business. In a bold move, Salinas turned down a stable job offer to join the fledgling Rent the Runway. Over three years, she helped shape its early success and explosive growth, leveraging her knack for data-driven strategy. Then, after a stint at Hudson's Bay and a start-up called Resonance, Salinas returned to RTR, where she spearheaded the development of its subscription business and eventually rose to the role of president. Her leadership was instrumental in scaling the company into a household name in the fashion rental industry. In 2024, Salinas felt ready for a new challenge. She stepped into the role of CEO at Nanit, a tech company revolutionizing how parents monitor their babies' sleep through a smart baby monitor—if you are a mom or soon-to-be mom, chances are you have heard the praises of the brand. While parenting tech may seem like a departure from fashion, the move aligns perfectly with Salinas' diverse skill set, as her mission is to empower parents with data-driven insights by building consumer-focused solutions that truly work. Listen to the latest episode of Second Life to hear how Salinas continues to trust her instincts, establishing herself as a true leader in innovation and impact. And keep scrolling to shop some of Nanit's best-selling products. View Deal View Deal View Deal View Deal Next: Meet Courtney Claghorn: The Founder Behind Sunless Tanning Empire Sugared + Bronzed
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
1 dead in Highway 101 crash with pickup truck, semi-truck pulling trailer: CHP Monterey
(KRON) — The California Highway Patrol Monterey Area office is investigating a fatal crash on Friday afternoon involving a pickup truck and a Freightliner semi-truck pulling a trailer. Man charged with DUI, manslaughter for running over woman in SF intersection CHP said it was alerted of the incident at 3:07 p.m. after receiving several reports of a traffic crash on northbound Highway 101 at Hartnell Road. 'Preliminary investigation indicates that the red Toyota pickup, driven by a 47-year-old Salinas resident, was traveling northbound on US-101, approaching Hartnell Road,' said CHP in a news release. 'At the same time, the Freightliner semi-truck, driven by a 62-year-old resident of Yuba City, was traveling southbound on US-101 and preparing to make a left turn onto Hartnell Road.' It was at this moment that CHP said the semi-truck crossed the northbound lanes of Highway 101, and the right side of the semi-truck's trailer collided with the front of the pickup. CHP said the driver of the Toyota pickup suffered fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the semi-truck was not injured. The identity of the deceased will be released by the Monterey County Coroner's Office after next of kin has been notified. This crash is an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the CHP Monterey Area Office at (831) 770-8000 or email MontereyCHPTips@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A daughter finds her mother dead in an L.A. homeless encampment. Was it an overdose or homicide?
The daughters of a U.S. Army veteran whose body was found in a homeless encampment on the edge of downtown are raising concerns about the Los Angeles Police Department's handling of their mother's case. Lucrecia Macias Barajas, 46, was found dead May 12 by one of her three daughters after she traced her mother's cellphone to a large, tarp-covered shelter in a notorious Westlake cul-de-sac. Another dead body, that of an unidentified man, was also found inside, along with two live dogs, according to officials. Video taken by a resident showed the daughter wailing on the ground after making the tragic discovery and later begging officers to remove her mother's body. Read more: 2 found dead inside tent in Westlake months after fatal fire at same encampment The LAPD has characterized the death as a suspected drug overdose, and told The Times at the time of the incident that it was not investigating the matter as a homicide. But the daughters of the dead woman say the LAPD was too quick to rule out foul play. Among other suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, the daughters say, is that the entrance to the shelter structure was secured from the outside with a lock. Also, they said a person who was in the area hours before the body was found said they heard a woman screaming for help. Hans Salinas, 25, told The Times that he and his girlfriend had fallen asleep in his car in a parking lot not far from the shelter when the sound of a man and woman arguing woke him up around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. 'She was screaming: 'help, help, I need help' he said, "After that it went silent." Salinas said the screaming was coming from the direction of the makeshift tent. He said he didn't intervene because he was afraid he would be attacked. It wasn't until the next day that he and his girlfriend, Josie Vega, 25, who lives in the area, learned of the deaths. 'That poor lady, to find her mother like that,' Vega said. 'And a day after Mother's Day.' LAPD officials said the department plans to look into the family's concerns. In a written statement to The Times, the office of Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes Westlake, said that it was in touch with the LAPD to "ensure the family gets the answers they deserve." Barajas' daughters have asked The Times not to be identified, saying they fear for their safety. The daughters showed a reporter a police detective's card with the words 'overdose investigation' written on the back of it. They also said the app they use to track their mother's phone showed she had arrived at the encampment two hours before Salinas heard the screams. The same app tracked their mother's phone to a park three blocks away from the crime scene, hours after the bodies had been removed, they said. The daughters also have accused police of failing to secure the crime scene and allowing evidence to go missing — including security cameras attached to the tent-like structure and the mother's cellphone. The video taken by the resident and obtained by TV news station NBC4 shows someone pulling the cameras down. They also said dogs, a pit bull mix and a shepherd mix, remained inside with the bodies for at least eight hours after her body was found. The daughter who found discovered her mother's body said the dogs had bitten into the corpse, though officials could not confirm this. She said her mom's body was not removed from the makeshift shelter until early the following day, Tuesday, when animal services showed up to take the dogs away. Los Angeles Animal Services said it responded to the location and picked up the two dogs, which are being held for evidence. They referred any further questions to police detectives investigating the case. Read more: L.A. landlord stops blasting 'Baby Shark' tune to drive off homeless following complaints The homeless encampment where the bodies were found was near the end of Huntley Drive, a cul-de-sac at the top of a hill, less than 500 feet from Miguel Contreras Learning Complex and across from the administrative offices of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Residents in the area said the man who lived in the shelter had been staying in the neighborhood for more than three years and operated what they say was a "drive-thru" drug business. They said complaints were filed with the LAPD about the man and his makeshift home but nothing was done. At least two signs on the street show the area is designated as a 41.18 special enforcement zone — which prohibits people from camping in the area. Residents said despite the signs, which were placed there in July 2022, the man continued to remain in the area and sell drugs freely with little consequence from police or the city. The Los Angeles County medical examiner has not identified the man and said autopsies for the two decedents are not being released yet. On a recent afternoon, not far from where people had placed candles and flowers as a memorial to Barajas, a homeless man who declined to give his name said he knew the dead man as 'Pablo' and that a woman who died in an RV fire on the same street in January was his girlfriend. The medical examiner identified the woman who died in the RV fire as 23-year-old Angela Castillo. The deaths bring renewed scrutiny to an area of the city that has been mired in gang violence, drug use, homelessness and organized retail theft. City officials said they have made progress in addressing the issues. Reported crime has dropped in recent months with the exception of burglaries and break-ins, according to LAPD's crime statistics. City officials said that although they received reports about encampments around Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, those on Huntley Drive were never brought to their attention by the LAPD or the LAUSD. They said the tent where the two bodies were found was on private property and hidden from view. Video from various news stations, however, showed the tent was visible from the street. Hernandez, the councilwoman, said in a written statement that the deaths were not only "horrific" but also an "unacceptable tragedy." "Our office is working in close coordination with City departments, outreach teams, and trusted community partners to ensure that those impacted receive trauma-informed, culturally competent support," she wrote. "This devastating loss underscores why we need real investments in harm reduction, housing-first policies, and wraparound services that center dignity, public health, and long-term stability." In Rampart Village this week, two miles west of Huntley Drive, Barajas' daughters stood beside each other, leaning against a beige wall of an apartment complex. The oldest of the three, wearing bracelets and rings on all fingers, held a framed photo of her mother dressed in an Army uniform. The daughters said their mother was born in Nicaragua and fled the country's civil war in 1986 with her two brothers and parents. The daughters said their mother was a person who cared deeply for others, often putting family and friends before herself. They said she served in the Army sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s, following in the footsteps of her father, who served in the military in Nicaragua. They believe their mother began using methamphetamine around 2017. It wasn't until years after that, however, that the daughters learned that their mother used the drug to keep up her energy as she was battling stage 3 lymphoma while working and taking care of them and their three brothers. 'She never told us anything,' the eldest daughter said. 'She kept that part quiet.' 'When I would catch her sleeping a lot she would say, 'I'm sick' or 'it's because I worked a lot',' one of the younger daughters said. 'She was always worried about not hurting us rather than telling us the truth.' The daughters say this was also around the time that their mother ended up on the street and became addicted to meth. In a 2020 video interview with Invisible People, a nonprofit that aims to tell the stories of unhoused people, Barajas said she lost her job and house and moved in with her parents. She had to leave the home however, because the landlord said there were too many people living there. She said she left her children with her parents. Barajas later became sober, she said in the video, and moved back in with family, but was still helping homeless people who had been by her side during tough times. What led her to the makeshift shelter that Sunday in Westlake is a question the daughters are still trying to answer, but they believe what happened there was more than just a drug overdose. In the meantime, the family continues to raise money for funeral expenses on GoFundMe, and are calling on the city to do more for its homeless population and end encampments. 'Nothing we do is going to bring her back but we don't want another girl crying because her mom passed away in one of those places,' said one of the youngest daughters. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
27-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
A daughter finds her mother dead in an L.A. homeless encampment. Was it an overdose or homicide?
The daughters of a U.S. Army veteran whose body was found in a homeless encampment on the edge of downtown are raising concerns about the Los Angeles Police Department's handling of their mother's case. Lucrecia Macias Barajas, 46, was found dead May 12 by one of her three daughters after she traced her mother's cellphone to a large, tarp-covered shelter in a notorious Westlake cul-de-sac. Another dead body, that of an unidentified man, was also found inside, along with two live dogs, according to officials. Video taken by a resident showed the daughter wailing on the ground after making the tragic discovery and later begging officers to remove her mother's body. The LAPD has characterized the death as a suspected drug overdose, and told The Times at the time of the incident that it was not investigating the matter as a homicide. But the daughters of the dead woman say the LAPD was too quick to rule out foul play. Among other suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, the daughters say, is that the entrance to the shelter structure was secured from the outside with a lock. Also, they said a person who was in the area hours before the body was found said they heard a woman screaming for help. Hans Salinas, 25, told The Times that he and his girlfriend had fallen asleep in his car in a parking lot not far from the shelter when the sound of a man and woman arguing woke him up around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. 'She was screaming: 'help, help, I need help' he said, 'After that it went silent.' Salinas said the screaming was coming from the direction of the makeshift tent. He said he didn't intervene because he was afraid he would be attacked. It wasn't until the next day that he and his girlfriend, Josie Vega, 25, who lives in the area, learned of the deaths. 'That poor lady, to find her mother like that,' Vega said. 'And a day after Mother's Day.' LAPD officials said the department plans to look into the family's concerns. In a written statement to The Times, the office of Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes Westlake, said that it was in touch with the LAPD to 'ensure the family gets the answers they deserve.' Barajas' daughters have asked The Times not to be identified, saying they fear for their safety. The daughters showed a reporter a police detective's card with the words 'overdose investigation' written on the back of it. They also said the app they use to track their mother's phone showed she had arrived at the encampment two hours before Salinas heard the screams. The same app tracked their mother's phone to a park three blocks away from the crime scene, hours after the bodies had been removed, they said. The daughters also have accused police of failing to secure the crime scene and allowing evidence to go missing — including security cameras attached to the tent-like structure and the mother's cellphone. The video taken by the resident and obtained by TV news station NBC4 shows someone pulling the cameras down. They also said dogs, a pit bull mix and a shepherd mix, remained inside with the bodies for at least eight hours after her body was found. The daughter who found discovered her mother's body said the dogs had bitten into the corpse, though officials could not confirm this. She said her mom's body was not removed from the makeshift shelter until early the following day, Tuesday, when animal services showed up to take the dogs away. Los Angeles Animal Services said it responded to the location and picked up the two dogs, which are being held for evidence. They referred any further questions to police detectives investigating the case. The homeless encampment where the bodies were found was near the end of Huntley Drive, a cul-de-sac at the top of a hill, less than 500 feet from Miguel Contreras Learning Complex and across from the administrative offices of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Residents in the area said the man who lived in the shelter had been staying in the neighborhood for more than three years and operated what they say was a 'drive-thru' drug business. They said complaints were filed with the LAPD about the man and his makeshift home but nothing was done. At least two signs on the street show the area is designated as a 41.18 special enforcement zone — which prohibits people from camping in the area. Residents said despite the signs, which were placed there in July 2022, the man continued to remain in the area and sell drugs freely with little consequence from police or the city. The Los Angeles County medical examiner has not identified the man and said autopsies for the two decedents are not being released yet. On a recent afternoon, not far from where people had placed candles and flowers as a memorial to Barajas, a homeless man who declined to give his name said he knew the dead man as 'Pablo' and that a woman who died in an RV fire on the same street in January was his girlfriend. The medical examiner identified the woman who died in the RV fire as 23-year-old Angela Castillo. The deaths bring renewed scrutiny to an area of the city that has been mired in gang violence, drug use, homelessness and organized retail theft. City officials said they have made progress in addressing the issues. Reported crime has dropped in recent months with the exception of burglaries and break-ins, according to LAPD's crime statistics. City officials said that although they received reports about encampments around Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, those on Huntley Drive were never brought to their attention by the LAPD or the LAUSD. They said the tent where the two bodies were found was on private property and hidden from view. Video from various news stations, however, showed the tent was visible from the street. Hernandez, the councilwoman, said in a written statement that the deaths were not only 'horrific' but also an 'unacceptable tragedy.' 'Our office is working in close coordination with City departments, outreach teams, and trusted community partners to ensure that those impacted receive trauma-informed, culturally competent support,' she wrote. 'This devastating loss underscores why we need real investments in harm reduction, housing-first policies, and wraparound services that center dignity, public health, and long-term stability.' In Rampart Village this week, two miles west of Huntley Drive, Barajas' daughters stood beside each other, leaning against a beige wall of an apartment complex. The oldest of the three, wearing bracelets and rings on all fingers, held a framed photo of her mother dressed in an Army uniform. The daughters said their mother was born in Nicaragua and fled the country's civil war in 1986 with her two brothers and parents. The daughters said their mother was a person who cared deeply for others, often putting family and friends before herself. They said she served in the Army sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s, following in the footsteps of her father, who served in the military in Nicaragua. They believe their mother began using methamphetamine around 2017. It wasn't until years after that, however, that the daughters learned that their mother used the drug to keep up her energy as she was battling stage 3 lymphoma while working and taking care of them and their three brothers. 'She never told us anything,' the eldest daughter said. 'She kept that part quiet.' 'When I would catch her sleeping a lot she would say, 'I'm sick' or 'it's because I worked a lot',' one of the younger daughters said. 'She was always worried about not hurting us rather than telling us the truth.' The daughters say this was also around the time that their mother ended up on the street and became addicted to meth. In a 2020 video interview with Invisible People, a nonprofit that aims to tell the stories of unhoused people, Barajas said she lost her job and house and moved in with her parents. She had to leave the home however, because the landlord said there were too many people living there. She said she left her children with her parents. Barajas later became sober, she said in the video, and moved back in with family, but was still helping homeless people who had been by her side during tough times. What led her to the makeshift shelter that Sunday in Westlake is a question the daughters are still trying to answer, but they believe what happened there was more than just a drug overdose. In the meantime, the family continues to raise money for funeral expenses on GoFundMe, and are calling on the city to do more for its homeless population and end encampments. 'Nothing we do is going to bring her back but we don't want another girl crying because her mom passed away in one of those places,' said one of the youngest daughters.
