New Book Challenges America’s Mental Health Paradigm by Exploring ‘Spiritual Emergency’
NEW YORK, September 29, 2025 — What happens when a spiritual awakening doesn’t look like peace and enlightenment but instead like chaos, confusion and crisis?
In her profound, unflinchingly honest new book, An American Awakening: The Interdependent Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health, Aymie Daniels offers a rare, courageous look into the misunderstood phenomenon of Spiritual Emergency—a term first coined by Stanislav and Christina Grof in the 1970s to describe a transformational crisis with profound psychological and spiritual implications. While respected in some therapeutic and indigenous traditions, it remains largely overlooked and often mishandled by modern American culture and the mental health system.
“In indigenous cultures, those who access metaphysical realms are revered as healers and shamans,” Daniels said. “In America, they’re often misunderstood, pathologized or dismissed.”
Part riveting personal journey, part guide, Daniels blends lived experience with practical frameworks for well-being, emotional regulation and integration of consciousness. She writes openly about her struggles with addiction, mental health and awakening—offering both raw honesty and practical tools for resilience, personal growth and healing.
At a time when conversations around mental health are expanding, An American Awakening adds a crucial voice. Honest, unflinching and ultimately redemptive, it challenges stigma and reframes crises not as pathology, but as possibility.
“I wrote this book to reach people who, like me, have faced deep challenges—and to remind them they’re not alone,” Daniels said. “At the same time, I wanted to build a bridge of understanding between the general public and those experiencing extreme psychological states, so we can begin to see each other with more compassion and clarity.”
Whether navigating personal challenges, moving through a spiritual emergency, or seeking personal growth and transformation, An American Awakening brings forward a perspective that has long been overlooked. It doesn’t just break the silence around stigma—it opens a new conversation and sparks hope where there has often been too little.
“Mental health is still evolving,” Daniels added. “And expanding the conversation gives voice and visibility to those too often silenced.”
An American Awakening: The Interdependent Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health
Aymie Daniels is the Managing Director of Prophet Source, a personal development company devoted to healing, transformation and the power of looking within. Drawing on her background in holistic health, her career in corporate finance and the depth of her own lived experience, she bridges the gap between spiritual insight and practical growth, offering a unique voice in the wellness and transformation space.
Daniels holds a bachelor's degree in Holistic Health Sciences and is board-certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. At Prophet Source, her work centers on Mind Awareness & Development, a philosophy that redefines what it means to be “MAD” by empowering individuals to embrace their powerful minds, unlock their strengths and rise to their highest potential.
New Book Challenges America’s Mental Health Paradigm by Exploring ‘Spiritual Emergency’
NEW YORK, September 25, 2025 — What happens when a spiritual awakening doesn’t look like peace and enlightenment but instead like chaos, confusion and crisis?
In her profound, unflinchingly honest new book, An American Awakening: The Interdependent Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health, Aymie Daniels offers a rare, courageous look into the misunderstood phenomenon of Spiritual Emergency—a term first coined by Stanislav and Christina Grof in the 1970s to describe a transformational crisis with profound psychological and spiritual implications. While respected in some therapeutic and indigenous traditions, it remains largely overlooked and often mishandled by modern American culture and the mental health system.
“In indigenous cultures, those who access metaphysical realms are revered as healers and shamans,” Daniels said. “In America, they’re often misunderstood, pathologized or dismissed.”
Part riveting personal journey, part guide, Daniels blends lived experience with practical frameworks for well-being, emotional regulation and integration of consciousness. She writes openly about her struggles with addiction, mental health and awakening—offering both raw honesty and practical tools for resilience, personal growth and healing.
At a time when conversations around mental health are expanding, An American Awakening adds a crucial voice. Honest, unflinching and ultimately redemptive, it challenges stigma and reframes crises not as pathology, but as possibility.
“I wrote this book to reach people who, like me, have faced deep challenges—and to remind them they’re not alone,” Daniels said. “At the same time, I wanted to build a bridge of understanding between the general public and those experiencing extreme psychological states, so we can begin to see each other with more compassion and clarity.”
Whether navigating personal challenges, moving through a spiritual emergency, or seeking personal growth and transformation, An American Awakening brings forward a perspective that has long been overlooked. It doesn’t just break the silence around stigma—it opens a new conversation and sparks hope where there has often been too little.
“Mental health is still evolving,” Daniels added. “And expanding the conversation gives voice and visibility to those too often silenced.”
An American Awakening: The Interdependent Relationship of Spirituality and Mental Health
Aymie Daniels is the Managing Director of Prophet Source, a personal development company devoted to healing, transformation and the power of looking within. Drawing on her background in holistic health, her career in corporate finance and the depth of her own lived experience, she bridges the gap between spiritual insight and practical growth, offering a unique voice in the wellness and transformation space.
Daniels holds a bachelor's degree in Holistic Health Sciences and is board-certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. At Prophet Source, her work centers on Mind Awareness & Development, a philosophy that redefines what it means to be “MAD” by empowering individuals to embrace their powerful minds, unlock their strengths and rise to their highest potential.
Seeing the World Through a Negative Filter? Energy Healer Says Subconscious Beliefs May Be Distorting Reality
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 24, 2025 — Most people don’t realize their biggest obstacle isn’t out in the world — it’s inside their minds. According to certified energy healer Tim Spriggs, deeply embedded negative beliefs act like invisible filters, distorting how people see themselves, others and even their possibilities.
“We may have something inside of us that’s negative — something that keeps speaking to us without our awareness,” said Spriggs, founder of Revive Wellness Center in Albuquerque. “It’s kind of like putting a filter on everything you interact with. If that filter is negative, you’ll perceive the world more negatively, no matter what’s actually happening.”
While it may not be possible to always view the world through rose-colored glasses, Spriggs can use targeted energy healing techniques to help clients identify and clear away the sources of negative, limiting beliefs and energetic imbalances that are keeping them from moving forward.
He offers a variety of in-person and virtual sessions that incorporate the Emotion Code, Body Code and Belief Code, as well as Reiki sessions.
Spriggs described the Emotion Code as a technique that helps people identify and release trapped emotional energies from negative past events. These harmful trapped emotions can cause a variety of physical and emotional issues.
“Because trapped emotions are made of energy, just like the rest of the body, they exert an influence on the body’s tissues and can cause blockages, resulting in physical discomfort or even illness,” Spriggs said. “Releasing trapped emotions makes conditions right for the body to heal itself physically, and emotional difficulties often disappear or become much easier to handle.”
The Body Code, he said, is a sophisticated and complete method of body balancing that encompasses emotional, energetic, nutritional, structural, pathogenic and toxicity factors.
“This technique is not meant to replace any medical treatment, but by correcting underlying imbalances, we help the body’s innate self-healing ability to take over,” he said. “As a result, discomfort and malfunction in the body often disappear, the organs function as they should, nutrients are absorbed properly, energy levels are raised and emotional issues become manageable or nonexistent.”
The Belief Code builds on the Emotion Code and Body Code, Spriggs explained, and allows him to tap into the subconscious mind to identify and release negative internal statements, reverse or replace negative systems of thought, and create space for new empowering beliefs.
“The Belief Code offers us a way to uproot negative subconscious internal statements, release ourselves from incongruous belief patterns and allows us to see things as they really are,” he added. “Free your mind, body and spirit from beliefs that have been holding you back!”
Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.
About Tim Spriggs
Initially trained in Reiki, Spriggs expanded his skills to incorporate the Emotion Code, Body Code and Belief Code, creating a powerful, integrated approach to wellness. Each modality holds unique insights into how bodies and minds store energy, emotions and beliefs, all of which shape experiences and health.
Coming from a family with strong medical roots, Spriggs witnessed the conventional path of healing firsthand but always believed that there was more to well-being than physical treatments alone. This belief drove him to explore complementary modalities that promote healing from within. Today, he strives to offer a holistic, compassionate practice that resonates with those seeking alternative, meaningful methods to resolve deep-seated issues and restore harmony in their lives.
National Recovery Month: Life Coach Uses His Journey to Inspire Others, Shares 30-Day Roadmap to Sobriety
EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 24, 2025 — An estimated 400 million people worldwide live with alcohol use disorders, according to the World Health Organization. Chris Najera is a certified life coach who also battled alcohol use disorder, and he delivers a timely guide for change in his new book, The Hard Truth! Stopping Alcohol.
Blending raw honesty, personal experience and practical strategies, Najera gives readers the tools to take back control. His 30-day roadmap to taking an alcohol break also provides readers with a pathway toward clarity, purpose and long-term sobriety.
“If you’re looking to stop, you’ve come to the right place,” Najera writes in the book’s introduction. “What I learned in sobriety is when you stop, you find a new person — you’re someone completely new … the person you were supposed to be in the first place, before the alcohol disrupted your life.”
Najera doesn’t just share his personal story of struggle and triumph, he equips readers with an action-oriented guide designed for anyone who drinks alcohol regularly and may question their relationship with alcohol — from mild drinkers and weekend drinkers to daily users. Through lived experience and researched wisdom, Najera challenges readers to dismantle the illusions of alcohol, break free from dependency and reclaim their lives.
“What makes this book unique is its mix of unfiltered honesty, practical strategies, and powerful insights that speak directly to moderate and heavy drinkers who are tired of the cycle,” Najera said. “Whether you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, taking a break for Sober October or searching for hope after repeated struggles, The Hard Truth! offers both clarity and courage. This isn’t just a book. It’s about educating communities and providing a tool to fight back against something that destroys so many lives.”
Christopher J. Najera is a college graduate, certified life coach, public speaker and author of The Hard Truth! Stopping Alcohol. With 35 years of personal experience battling alcohol use disorder, Najera speaks from a place of raw honesty and lived truth. A weekend drinker who turned to daily drinking, his transformation began because of what most ignore as “normal,” but affects everyone around them. In the end, alcohol consumed him, and he sought outpatient treatment. After seeing others suffering, he realized he didn’t want to end up on dialysis or a liver transplant list like his peers. It was in those moments where real change was the best outcome for his future.
Driven by a mission to expose the truths alcohol companies never reveal, Najera brings together powerful facts, personal stories and practical tools to help audiences understand their relationship with alcohol and reclaim their lives. His work aligns with global health efforts, including the World Health Organization's campaign to reduce harmful alcohol use by 2030 at the local level.
Najera was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. When he's not writing or speaking, he’s mentoring others on the path to sobriety and helping them discover that it’s never too late to make a change. He also works as a roofing contractor in El Paso while living his best life sober.
The Rise of the Overworked American: U.S. Work Hours Reach Record Highs in 2024
New MyPerfectResume analysis reveals an 11% increase in national work hours since 2007, led by Texas (+34%), North Dakota (+31%), and Utah (+29%)
GUAYNABO, PR – September 9, 2025 – New data analysis from resume-building platform MyPerfectResume®finds that Americans are working significantly more than they were in the mid-2000s, despite little growth in real wages or workplace support. Using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, the Changing American Workweek report reveals that cumulative national work hours have surged 10.7% since Q1 2007, reaching a record 296.7 billion hours in Q4 2024.
Unlike traditional employment statistics, which count the number of people with jobs, this analysis focuses on total labor volume, the actual hours Americans are working. The results show a rise in labor intensity across the U.S., fueled by second jobs, longer shifts, gig work, and blurred lines between home and work.
“We often ask how many people are working, but the better question is: how much are they working, and at what cost?” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume. “This new metric captures the full weight of the modern workweek, and the burnout building beneath the surface.”
Key Findings:
Total national work hours rose 10.7% between Q1 2007 and Q4 2024, reaching 296.7 billion hours.
Texas experienced the largest increase in work hours since 2007, up 34%.
Other high-growth states include North Dakota (+31%), Utah (+29%), Idaho (+28%), and Arizona (+23%).
Five states saw declines in hours worked: New Mexico (–3%), Vermont (–3%), Alaska (–4%), West Virginia (–5%), and Wyoming (–6%).
The Top 10 States Where Americans Are Working the Most
Based on percentage growth in total cumulative hours worked from 2007 to 2024, these states lead the nation in labor intensity:
Rank
State
% Increase in Hours Worked
1
Texas
+34%
2
North Dakota
+31%
3
Utah
+29%
4
Idaho
+28%
5
Arizona
+23%
6
Florida
+22%
7
Georgia
+17%
8
South Carolina
+17%
9
North Carolina
+16%
10
Tennessee
+16%
In Sun Belt and Mountain West states, such as Texas, Florida, and Utah, population growth, booming industries, and labor shortages are driving up work demands. However, longer hours don’t always mean better jobs. Many gains come with burnout risks, inconsistent schedules, and unpaid overtime.
Why This Matters
The report uses total hours worked to measure the amount of labor being performed, not just the number of people working. This macro view reveals hidden burdens:
Workers covering multiple jobs or shifts
Employees stretched by understaffing
Remote workers tethered to their devices 24/7
Gig workers logging hours without benefits
What’s Driving the Increase?
Several economic pressures are driving Americans to work more than they did in the mid-2000s:
Stagnant wages: More hours are needed to cover basic costs.
Labor shortages: Fewer workers mean more shifts to fill.
Remote/hybrid models: Workdays often extend into evenings and weekends.
Rising cost of living: Many workers take on second jobs or freelance gigs.
Bottom 5 States Where Work Hours Declined
Rank
State
% Change
46
New Mexico
–3%
47
Vermont
–3%
48
Alaska
–4%
49
West Virginia
–5%
50
Wyoming
–6%
These states may reflect slower economic recoveries, aging populations, or shifts away from labor-intensive industries.
This analysis was conducted by MyPerfectResume using publicly available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
National Data: Quarterly totals for hours worked were pulled from the BLS Productivity and Costs program. Q1 2007 was compared with Q4 2024.
State Data: Indexed hours worked by state (2007–2024) were analyzed to calculate the percentage change in cumulative labor hours.
This analysis measures total labor volume, not average hours per person, offering a broad perspective on economic labor demand by state.
Wings Over is bringing a first-of-its-kind flavor to the table: Pumpkin Spice Chicken Wings. Now women and men can agree on the perfect tailgating treat!
Also, National Pumpkin Spice Day is Oct 1!
Launching September 15 across their 30+ locations in 9 states, the “PSWs” are described as “Sugar, Spice, and Everything Basic”—a sweet-and-savory spin designed to surprise and delight everyone from tailgaters to families. Wings Over is known for bold limited-time flavors, but this is their most unexpected seasonal release yet.
Given how much buzz pumpkin spice sparks every year, we think this fun, tongue-in-cheek twist could be a perfect fit for your fall flavor coverage (especially on your social channels). We’d love to share more visuals and details as soon as the embargo lifts next month.
How about a Tailgating Story?
🍺 Best Beer Pairings for Pumpkin Spice Wings
Pumpkin Ale – Lean into the theme! Many breweries release seasonal pumpkin ales with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove that will echo the wings’ flavors.
Brown Ale – Malty, nutty, and slightly sweet — balances the sugar and spice without overwhelming.
Wheat Beer / Hefeweizen – Refreshing, slightly fruity, with hints of banana/clove that mirror fall spices.
Oktoberfest Märzen – Toasty and caramel-forward, classic fall flavor that pairs perfectly with chicken wings.
IPA (Hazy/New England style) – The citrus + juicy hop character adds a refreshing counterpoint to the sweetness.
🍷 Best Wine Pairings for Pumpkin Spice Wings
1. Riesling (Off-Dry)
Sweetness balances the spice and heat.
Apple and honey notes mirror fall flavors.
2. Gewürztraminer
Naturally spicy and aromatic (ginger, clove, lychee).
Matches the warming spices in pumpkin spice.
3. Sparkling Wine (Prosecco or Cava)
Effervescence cuts through the sauciness.
Light fruit notes play well with cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Pinot Noir (Lighter Style)
Red berry fruitiness complements the pumpkin spice sweetness.
Soft tannins won’t overwhelm the wings.
5. Chardonnay (Lightly Oaked)
Buttery and toasty notes echo fall flavors.
Works if wings are on the sweeter, less spicy side.
Study: First Brain Fitness Tracker Validated for Aging Independently Large Implications for Aging Research and Monitoring Abilities
San Francisco, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new study shows that a novel online assessment (here) provides a valid scientific measure of the cognitive abilities of older adults related to living independently. The self-administered assessment can be completed in four minutes on most internet-connected devices (phones, tablets, computers) — with large implications for monitoring and improving cognitive aging. The assessment was developed by Posit Science, the maker of BrainHQ brain training exercises and assessments, and it was examined as part of an NIH-funded study in collaboration with university-based researchers.
“This is a game-changer in our ability to monitor and manage successful aging,” observed Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science. “Maintaining the ability to live independently is one of the greatest concerns about growing older, yet it’s rarely measured because of a lack of easily accessible tools. It can take a long time to schedule an office visit for a full battery of neuropsychological tests, and few people do so. Now, here’s a new tool you could use as a brain fitness tracker — to permit ongoing monitoring.”
The study examined whether a very short, self-administered, online test could provide a quick look at the “executive function” cognitive abilities of older adults. Executive function includes key cognitive building blocks (such as planning, flexibility, and inhibitory control), which underpin the goal-directed behaviors needed to maintain independent living.
“Clinician-administered batteries of cognition are the preferred source for insight into cognitive aging — especially to assist with diagnostic decisions,” said Dr. Mahncke. “We were looking for a brief, self-administered assessment that might be used, after an in-person examination (as it was in this study), for relatively quick, and perhaps more frequent, monitoring purposes.”
The study, conducted at McGill University, was designed to assess the usability and validity of Freeze Frame, a cognitive assessment available on the BrainHQ platform, in predicting executive function performance in healthy older adults. Performance on Freeze Frame was analyzed in relation to self-reported demographic variables and to neuropsychological function, using NIH-EXAMINER, a widely adopted measure of executive function.
Freeze Frame is designed to measure inhibitory control (a critical component of executive function), which is the rapid ability to suppress impulsive reactions in favor of task-relevant actions in rapidly changing environments — to support cognitive flexibility, working memory, and goal focus.
In the Freeze Frame task, participants are presented a target image at the start of a block of trials, in which a rapid (often split-second) stream of targets and foils are presented. Participants withhold any response when presented with a target, and they enter a rapid response to each foil. Each block dynamically adjusts to become harder or easier depending on the participant’s performance, and to pinpoint an overall score.
The study enrolled 92 healthy older adults (aged 65-83, average age 72). The study found that the Freeze Frame assessment significantly associated and positively correlated with the NIH EXAMINER executive function composite score.
Because cognitive performance generally declines with age, and because women tend to exhibit slightly better executive function, the assessment (as expected) showed a small but statistically significant relationship to age and gender, but no such association with years of education. A psychometric evaluation supported its usability, with an average completion time of 4 minutes.
“We’ve been building and testing assessments for several years to provide more cognitive performance data to enable ongoing monitoring,” Dr. Mahncke added. “The beauty here is each assessment ties directly to our brain exercises, which have been shown to improve both cognitive function and performance of everyday tasks. This creates a path for monitoring and maintaining independent living.”
BrainHQ exercises have shown benefits in more than 300 studies. Such benefits include gains in cognition (attention, speed, memory, decision-making), in quality of life (depressive symptoms, confidence and control, health-related quality of life) and in real-world activities (health outcomes, balance, driving, workplace activities). BrainHQ is used by leading health and Medicare Advantage plans, by leading medical centers, clinics, and communities, and by elite athletes, the military, police, and other organizations focused on split-second peak performance. Consumers can try a BrainHQ exercise for free daily at https://www.brainhq.com.
This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R44AG039965 and 3R44AG039965-06S1. This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health
US Open generates estimated $39 million in sponsorship revenue for 2025 edition, reveals GlobalData
Seven brands sponsored the 2025 edition of the US Open, with American Express, Rolex, and Lexus entering into substantial agreements estimated at an annual value of $6.25 million each. Overall, the annual sponsorship revenue for the 2025 edition of the tournament is estimated to be $39 million, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest report, “Post Event Analysis – U.S. Open (Golf) 2025,” reveals that the domestic media revenue for the 2025 US Open is valued at an estimated $40 million. The total prize pool for the 2025 edition was set at $21.5 million, mirroring the amount allocated for the 2024 tournament.
Olivia Snooks, Sport Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The sponsors of the US Open primarily sponsor the USGA, which oversees several golf championships, including the US Open, but also the US Women’s Open, US Amateur Championships, and the US Senior Open. There were also no new sponsors for the 2025 edition of the US Open.”
In 2020, NBC secured the domestic broadcasting rights to the US Open, with the partnership expected to extend through 2026. This arrangement followed the early termination of the agreement with Fox Sports. NBC attracted 5.4 million viewers on the final day of the 2025 US Open, making it the least-watched US Open final round since Bryson DeChambeau’s inaugural victory at Winged Foot in 2020.
Snooks continues: “NBC encountered criticism for its coverage of the 2025 US Open, with viewers expressing dissatisfaction over an abundance of commercials, restricted streaming availability, and subpar production quality. The network, responsible for broadcasting the event on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, provided nearly 300 hours of coverage but faced allegations of placing profit over the viewer experience.”
J. J. Spaun secured $4.3 million for his victory in the 2025 US Open, equaling the earnings of the previous year's winner, Bryson DeChambeau. Rory McIlroy, winner of the 2025 Masters, received $4.2 million, while Scottie Scheffler, the champion of this year's PGA Championship, was awarded $3.4 million. Robert McIntyre, the runner-up at the 2025 US Open, was awarded $2.3 million, whereas Viktor Hovland earned $1.4 million for his third-place finish. Cameron Young, Tyrrell Hatton, and Carlos Ortiz, who finished in a tie for fourth place, each received $878,815.
Snooks concludes: “The prize money for the 2025 US Open is the most substantial among the four major golf tournaments, higher than that of the Masters, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. Despite the prize money remaining unchanged from the 2024 to the 2025 edition, it represents a significant growth compared to four years prior, when the total amount stood at $12.5 million, with the champion earning $2.25 million.”
Novel Digital Test Provides Revolutionary Tool to Assess Brain Chemistry Large Implications for Cognitive Aging and Dementia
San Francisco, July 7, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For the first time, a study shows a digital assessment can provide a scientific measure of acetylcholine – a key brain chemical whose decline signals the progression of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The assessment (here) can be self-administered and completed in about three minutes on internet-connected devices — with big implications for cognitive aging and dementia. The assessment was developed by Posit Science, the maker ofBrainHQ brain training exercises and assessments, and examined as part of an NIH-funded study in collaboration with researchers at McGill University.
“Currently, it’s impossible for doctors to monitor this brain chemical despite its importance because it requires expensive imaging equipment and special expertise available at few research centers,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science. “This breakthrough shows a new path for routine monitoring of brain health by doctors and individuals.”
The brain’s neuromodulatory system produces brain chemicals that impact mood, learning, attention, responsiveness, and memory. Brain scientists have known for decades that the system (and its subsystems that produce various brain chemicals) operate more sluggishly (downregulate) with aging and various health conditions.
The assessment focuses on the cholinergic system — a subsystem that produces the brain chemical acetylcholine — sometimes called the “pay attention” chemical, because it is produced when you pay attention. The production of acetylcholine is known to down regulate with normal aging, and even more severely with pre-dementia and with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
Cholinergic function is recognized as a key biomarker of overall brain health, regulates the ability of the brain to change (“plasticity”), and is associated with stronger cognitive performance (in sensory processing, attention, learning, memory, and executive function). Poor cholinergic function is linked to the production of plaque and tangles associated with ADRD, as well deficits in other conditions.
Currently there is no easily accessible way to measure cholinergic function. No standardized blood test to directly measure it exists. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) brain imaging techniques can be used; however, this method is costly, requires specialized expertise, and exposes participants to radiation, limiting its use in clinical practice.
“We developed a digital cognitive test to be a sensitive measure of brain health. To validate the test, we approached the researchers at The Neuro at McGill University, because it is one of a small number of places on the planet with the imaging technology to measure acetylcholine directly,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke. “In this study, they measured acetylcholine alongside cognitive performance using our assessment.”
The imaging study enrolled 92 healthy older adults (average age 72). Each was measured using: a BrainHQ assessment (Double Decision); two other validated neuropsychological assessments; and a PET scan using tracer to evaluate cholinergic neurotransmission.
The study showed better scores on the Double Decision assessment correlated with higher cholinergic function, indicating that the assessment could estimate cholinergic function without the complexity and risk of doing a PET scan. These results align with prior studies showing a significant relationship between cholinergic function and cognitive performance as measured by clinician-administered tools.
The assessment was brief, taking an average of 3 minutes to complete, and demonstrated good usability with reasonable descriptive and psychometric properties. It was sensitive to age within the narrow band measured of 65-83 years and was not influenced by demographic factors such as years of education or gender.
The researchers conclude: “The results support the adoption of this scalable form of biomarker-informed cognitive assessment available to individuals with an internet-connected device.”
“These researchers also are looking at whether our brain exercises can upregulate acetylcholine, which would have a tremendous impact on cognitive aging and ADRD research,” Dr. Mahncke added. “We look forward to learning more.
BrainHQ exercises have shown benefits in more than 300 studies. Such benefits include gains in cognition (attention, speed, memory, decision-making), in quality of life (depressive symptoms, confidence and control, health-related quality of life) and in real-world activities (health outcomes, balance, driving, workplace activities). BrainHQ is used by leading health and Medicare Advantage plans, by leading medical centers, clinics, and communities, and by elite athletes, the military, and other organizations focused on peak performance. Consumers can try a BrainHQ exercise for free daily at https://www.brainhq.com.
This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R44AG039965 and 3R44AG039965-06S1. This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health
Thrive Causemetics Unveils Radiant New Lip Topper Inspired by Founder Karissa Bodnar!
NEW YORK, NY - July 7th, 2025 - Thrive Causemetics is proud to unveil a special new shade of its iconic Lip Mate™ High-Shine Reviving Lip Topper: Karissa, named in honor of the brand’s visionary founder, Karissa Bodnar.
This meaningful launch marks a heartfelt milestone in Thrive Causemetics’ 10-year anniversary celebration. Over the past decade, Karissa has built Thrive Causemetics into one of the largest beauty brands with a mission to give back, and this new shade serves as a love letter to the community that helped bring her vision to life. Launching just ahead of Karissa’s birthday on July 9th, this launch is a tribute to her journey, her impact, and the brand’s continued evolution.
Meet the perfect match to layer over your favorite lip color or bare pout. This proprietary combination of powerful ingredients like peptides and sodium hyaluronate deeply hydrate and plump the skin, support its natural ability to produce hyaluronic acid, and smooth the appearance of fine lines for visibly fuller, plumper, more youthful-looking lips. Now available on ThriveCausemetics.com .
About Thrive CausemeticsThrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare is a high-performance makeup and skincare company with a “bigger than beauty” mission. All of the products are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens and sulfates. For every product purchased, Thrive Causemetics donates to help communities thrive. Since 2015, Thrive Causemetics has donated over $150 million in funds and products to over 600 Giving Partners.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
Launching September 15 across their 30+ locations in 9 states, the “PSWs” are described as “Sugar, Spice, and Everything Basic”—a sweet-and-savory spin designed to surprise and delight everyone from tailgaters to families. Wings Over is known for bold limited-time flavors, but this is their most unexpected seasonal release yet.
Meet the perfect match to layer over your favorite lip color or bare pout. This proprietary combination of powerful ingredients like peptides and sodium hyaluronate deeply hydrate and plump the skin, support its natural ability to produce hyaluronic acid, and smooth the appearance of fine lines for visibly fuller, plumper, more youthful-looking lips. Now available on 
