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Time Well Spent | Marissa Witmer | TEDxYouth@Lancaster


[Music]

[Music] in the time that it takes you to listen

in the time that it takes you to listen

in the time that it takes you to listen to this talk eight people will be

to this talk eight people will be

to this talk eight people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but equally in the next eight minutes

equally in the next eight minutes

equally in the next eight minutes someone could discover the cure to

someone could discover the cure to

someone could discover the cure to Alzheimer’s disease today you could sit

Alzheimer’s disease today you could sit

Alzheimer’s disease today you could sit here and doze off maybe think about what

here and doze off maybe think about what

here and doze off maybe think about what you’re going to have for dinner tonight

you’re going to have for dinner tonight

you’re going to have for dinner tonight or you can take something from these

or you can take something from these

or you can take something from these talks that sparks your curiosity then in

talks that sparks your curiosity then in

talks that sparks your curiosity then in turn take the time to pursue your

turn take the time to pursue your

turn take the time to pursue your curiosity and be inspired to take action

curiosity and be inspired to take action

curiosity and be inspired to take action it all depends on how you are willing to

it all depends on how you are willing to

it all depends on how you are willing to use your time moving forward oftentimes

use your time moving forward oftentimes

use your time moving forward oftentimes we hear people say I don’t have enough

we hear people say I don’t have enough

we hear people say I don’t have enough time for that or there aren’t enough

time for that or there aren’t enough

time for that or there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to possibly get

hours in the day for me to possibly get

hours in the day for me to possibly get all of this done but the problem is not

all of this done but the problem is not

all of this done but the problem is not how much time we do or do not have but

how much time we do or do not have but

how much time we do or do not have but it’s how we are choosing to spend our

it’s how we are choosing to spend our

it’s how we are choosing to spend our time if your priority is social media

time if your priority is social media

time if your priority is social media then you will spend your time on social

then you will spend your time on social

then you will spend your time on social media but if your priority is serving

media but if your priority is serving

media but if your priority is serving others you will then spend your time

others you will then spend your time

others you will then spend your time serving others our priorities are

serving others our priorities are

serving others our priorities are important once we can identify those

important once we can identify those

important once we can identify those priorities we will then have time to

priorities we will then have time to

priorities we will then have time to pursue our passions one of my passions

pursue our passions one of my passions

pursue our passions one of my passions is challenging myself to learn new

is challenging myself to learn new

is challenging myself to learn new things every day and my curiosity for

things every day and my curiosity for

things every day and my curiosity for the human brain invited me or allowed me

the human brain invited me or allowed me

the human brain invited me or allowed me to be invited to do a brain dissection

to be invited to do a brain dissection

to be invited to do a brain dissection at Hershey Medical Center let me tell

at Hershey Medical Center let me tell

at Hershey Medical Center let me tell you it was a humbling experience to see

you it was a humbling experience to see

you it was a humbling experience to see and hold a human brain

and hold a human brain

and hold a human brain I remember thinking wow this is

I remember thinking wow this is

I remember thinking wow this is someone’s every thought dream action and

someone’s every thought dream action and

someone’s every thought dream action and throughout their entire life in my hand

throughout their entire life in my hand

throughout their entire life in my hand eventually during this brain dissection

eventually during this brain dissection

eventually during this brain dissection we discovered some spots of darker

we discovered some spots of darker

we discovered some spots of darker plaques and signs of neuro degeneration

plaques and signs of neuro degeneration

plaques and signs of neuro degeneration now one interesting thing about the

now one interesting thing about the

now one interesting thing about the brain in these donor brains is that we

brain in these donor brains is that we

brain in these donor brains is that we have no knowledge about who the donor

have no knowledge about who the donor

have no knowledge about who the donor was or what their cause of death was

was or what their cause of death was

was or what their cause of death was luckily we had dr. Connor who’s the head

luckily we had dr. Connor who’s the head

luckily we had dr. Connor who’s the head of Neurosurgery there to identify those

of Neurosurgery there to identify those

of Neurosurgery there to identify those plaques as dark spots leading to

plaques as dark spots leading to

plaques as dark spots leading to Alzheimer’s disease seeing the actual

Alzheimer’s disease seeing the actual

Alzheimer’s disease seeing the actual effect that the detrimental disease has

effect that the detrimental disease has

effect that the detrimental disease has on the human brain fascinated me and I

on the human brain fascinated me and I

on the human brain fascinated me and I knew that I had to learn more so this

knew that I had to learn more so this

knew that I had to learn more so this was where all of my research began so

was where all of my research began so

was where all of my research began so this was time well spent

this was time well spent

this was time well spent I chose to spend all of my free time the

I chose to spend all of my free time the

I chose to spend all of my free time the following week researching as much as I

following week researching as much as I

following week researching as much as I could about Alzheimer’s disease to try

could about Alzheimer’s disease to try

could about Alzheimer’s disease to try to understand it better in uncovering

to understand it better in uncovering

to understand it better in uncovering the effects of this disease I was made

the effects of this disease I was made

the effects of this disease I was made aware of a lot of statistics that truly

aware of a lot of statistics that truly

aware of a lot of statistics that truly astounded me I chose to serve as an

astounded me I chose to serve as an

astounded me I chose to serve as an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness

advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness

advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness because not enough people understand the

because not enough people understand the

because not enough people understand the truly detrimental impact that this

truly detrimental impact that this

truly detrimental impact that this disease is expected to have on the

disease is expected to have on the

disease is expected to have on the world’s population in the next 20 to 30

world’s population in the next 20 to 30

world’s population in the next 20 to 30 years according to the Alzheimer’s

years according to the Alzheimer’s

years according to the Alzheimer’s Association one in three people aged 85

Association one in three people aged 85

Association one in three people aged 85 and older are expected to be diagnosed

and older are expected to be diagnosed

and older are expected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease currently there

with Alzheimer’s disease currently there

with Alzheimer’s disease currently there are five million Americans living with

are five million Americans living with

are five million Americans living with you with Alzheimer’s disease and if the

you with Alzheimer’s disease and if the

you with Alzheimer’s disease and if the current trends continue this number is

current trends continue this number is

current trends continue this number is expected to rise to 16 million Americans

expected to rise to 16 million Americans

expected to rise to 16 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease by

suffering from Alzheimer’s disease by

suffering from Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050

the year 2050

the year 2050 and get this since the year 2000 deaths

and get this since the year 2000 deaths

and get this since the year 2000 deaths from heart disease have decreased by 14%

from heart disease have decreased by 14%

from heart disease have decreased by 14% but deaths from Alzheimer’s disease

but deaths from Alzheimer’s disease

but deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased by 89% these shocking

have increased by 89% these shocking

have increased by 89% these shocking statistics are what began my passion to

statistics are what began my passion to

statistics are what began my passion to change the future with new motivation

change the future with new motivation

change the future with new motivation and a new sense of urgency I began

and a new sense of urgency I began

and a new sense of urgency I began looking deeper into everything that I

looking deeper into everything that I

looking deeper into everything that I could to understand the pathophysiology

could to understand the pathophysiology

could to understand the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease while looking at

of Alzheimer’s disease while looking at

of Alzheimer’s disease while looking at medical journals I eventually came

medical journals I eventually came

medical journals I eventually came across a group of journals that

across a group of journals that

across a group of journals that highlighted the link between metformin

highlighted the link between metformin

highlighted the link between metformin which is a drug for type 2 diabetes

which is a drug for type 2 diabetes

which is a drug for type 2 diabetes patients and Alzheimer’s disease

patients and Alzheimer’s disease

patients and Alzheimer’s disease according to an article in clinical

according to an article in clinical

according to an article in clinical interventions in aging the risk of

interventions in aging the risk of

interventions in aging the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is fifty

developing Alzheimer’s disease is fifty

developing Alzheimer’s disease is fifty to a hundred and fifty percent greater

to a hundred and fifty percent greater

to a hundred and fifty percent greater in patients with type 2 diabetes

in patients with type 2 diabetes

in patients with type 2 diabetes metformin is a drug given to type two

metformin is a drug given to type two

metformin is a drug given to type two diabetes patients that has been shown to

diabetes patients that has been shown to

diabetes patients that has been shown to induce this beta amyloid plaque

induce this beta amyloid plaque

induce this beta amyloid plaque production and inflammation in the brain

production and inflammation in the brain

production and inflammation in the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s disease

that leads to Alzheimer’s disease

that leads to Alzheimer’s disease currently many type-2 diabetes patients

currently many type-2 diabetes patients

currently many type-2 diabetes patients are prescribed insulin sensitizers that

are prescribed insulin sensitizers that

are prescribed insulin sensitizers that function to help make the body more

function to help make the body more

function to help make the body more sensitive to insulin studies have shown

sensitive to insulin studies have shown

sensitive to insulin studies have shown that metformin which is one of the most

that metformin which is one of the most

that metformin which is one of the most commonly prescribed insulin sensitizers

commonly prescribed insulin sensitizers

commonly prescribed insulin sensitizers has been linked to this beta amyloid

has been linked to this beta amyloid

has been linked to this beta amyloid plaque production and inflammation which

plaque production and inflammation which

plaque production and inflammation which leads to the onset and development of

leads to the onset and development of

leads to the onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease and this is the

Alzheimer’s disease and this is the

Alzheimer’s disease and this is the route that I chose to investigate to

route that I chose to investigate to

route that I chose to investigate to eliminate the connection between this

eliminate the connection between this

eliminate the connection between this drug and Alzheimer’s for the past two

drug and Alzheimer’s for the past two

drug and Alzheimer’s for the past two years I’ve been doing research at the

years I’ve been doing research at the

years I’ve been doing research at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Penn State Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine in the

College of Medicine in the

College of Medicine in the neurodegenerative diseases lab yes a

neurodegenerative diseases lab yes a

neurodegenerative diseases lab yes a mouthful throughout my research I’ve

mouthful throughout my research I’ve

mouthful throughout my research I’ve been investigating a variety of insulin

been investigating a variety of insulin

been investigating a variety of insulin sensitizers that can decrease this

sensitizers that can decrease this

sensitizers that can decrease this detrimental plaque production I’ve

detrimental plaque production I’ve

detrimental plaque production I’ve chosen to investigate both natural and

chosen to investigate both natural and

chosen to investigate both natural and chemical insulin sensitizers that can

chemical insulin sensitizers that can

chemical insulin sensitizers that can work just as effectively as metformin

work just as effectively as metformin

work just as effectively as metformin but without the detrimental side effects

but without the detrimental side effects

but without the detrimental side effects like Alzheimer’s disease currently my

like Alzheimer’s disease currently my

like Alzheimer’s disease currently my research is try

research is try

research is try to find a balance between these

to find a balance between these

to find a balance between these treatments and the continuation of my

treatments and the continuation of my

treatments and the continuation of my previous studies is showing some

previous studies is showing some

previous studies is showing some promising results

promising results

promising results my ultimate goal with this project is to

my ultimate goal with this project is to

my ultimate goal with this project is to propose an alternative method to manage

propose an alternative method to manage

propose an alternative method to manage type-2 diabetes patients that eliminates

type-2 diabetes patients that eliminates

type-2 diabetes patients that eliminates the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in this

the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in this

the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in this population now this is no overnight

population now this is no overnight

population now this is no overnight process for me I’m two years in and it’s

process for me I’m two years in and it’s

process for me I’m two years in and it’s only just the beginning so I urge you to

only just the beginning so I urge you to

only just the beginning so I urge you to stick with what you love and challenge

stick with what you love and challenge

stick with what you love and challenge yourself to pursue greatness no matter

yourself to pursue greatness no matter

yourself to pursue greatness no matter how long you think it will take or how

how long you think it will take or how

how long you think it will take or how much time you think that you have left

much time you think that you have left

much time you think that you have left this research for me has been time well

this research for me has been time well

this research for me has been time well spent as it afforded me the opportunity

spent as it afforded me the opportunity

spent as it afforded me the opportunity to attend the International Science and

to attend the International Science and

to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair as a finalist the

Engineering Fair as a finalist the

Engineering Fair as a finalist the pivotal moment for me was seeing all of

pivotal moment for me was seeing all of

pivotal moment for me was seeing all of my peers from around the world reshaping

my peers from around the world reshaping

my peers from around the world reshaping science as we know it and that is what

science as we know it and that is what

science as we know it and that is what motivates me to be excellent every day

motivates me to be excellent every day

motivates me to be excellent every day let me tell you being surrounded by the

let me tell you being surrounded by the

let me tell you being surrounded by the highest achieving people your age is one

highest achieving people your age is one

highest achieving people your age is one so intimidating and – the most

so intimidating and – the most

so intimidating and – the most worthwhile experience that you could

worthwhile experience that you could

worthwhile experience that you could possibly imagine

possibly imagine

possibly imagine whether you’re seventeen or 75

whether you’re seventeen or 75

whether you’re seventeen or 75 challenging yourself to interact with

challenging yourself to interact with

challenging yourself to interact with people with similar priorities will help

people with similar priorities will help

people with similar priorities will help you to grow in some unimaginable ways

you to grow in some unimaginable ways

you to grow in some unimaginable ways from my experience at the International

from my experience at the International

from my experience at the International Science Fair I could not be more proud

Science Fair I could not be more proud

Science Fair I could not be more proud of the things that this generation is

of the things that this generation is

of the things that this generation is doing for the future of humanity I would

doing for the future of humanity I would

doing for the future of humanity I would walk through rows and rows of projects

walk through rows and rows of projects

walk through rows and rows of projects proposing cures to cancer are ways to

proposing cures to cancer are ways to

proposing cures to cancer are ways to track space debris even Bionic arms that

track space debris even Bionic arms that

track space debris even Bionic arms that can feel touch and react to stimuli

can feel touch and react to stimuli

can feel touch and react to stimuli obviously these projects took a

obviously these projects took a

obviously these projects took a significant amount of time and for some

significant amount of time and for some

significant amount of time and for some their work was the result of a two to

their work was the result of a two to

their work was the result of a two to three year study now this

three year study now this

three year study now this is time well spent instead of spending

is time well spent instead of spending

is time well spent instead of spending hours a day on Instagram or scrolling

hours a day on Instagram or scrolling

hours a day on Instagram or scrolling through snapchat these students

through snapchat these students

through snapchat these students challenge the stereotypes of generation

challenge the stereotypes of generation

challenge the stereotypes of generation Z through their commitment to good work

Z through their commitment to good work

Z through their commitment to good work ethic in pursuit of their passions our

ethic in pursuit of their passions our

ethic in pursuit of their passions our generation has a huge responsibility to

generation has a huge responsibility to

generation has a huge responsibility to take action now in one perspective it

take action now in one perspective it

take action now in one perspective it can seem a little overwhelming to think

can seem a little overwhelming to think

can seem a little overwhelming to think of all of the challenges that we are

of all of the challenges that we are

of all of the challenges that we are left to overcome but after seeing the

left to overcome but after seeing the

left to overcome but after seeing the fantastic work that these motivated 15

fantastic work that these motivated 15

fantastic work that these motivated 15 to 18 year olds are currently doing all

to 18 year olds are currently doing all

to 18 year olds are currently doing all over the world I have no doubt that we

over the world I have no doubt that we

over the world I have no doubt that we are capable of making an incredible

are capable of making an incredible

are capable of making an incredible difference in the future it’s only a

difference in the future it’s only a

difference in the future it’s only a matter of time it’s not a matter of how

matter of time it’s not a matter of how

matter of time it’s not a matter of how much time or how little time that we

much time or how little time that we

much time or how little time that we have but it’s how we choose to use our

have but it’s how we choose to use our

have but it’s how we choose to use our time so I ask you this moving forward

time so I ask you this moving forward

time so I ask you this moving forward how will you spend your time will yours

how will you spend your time will yours

how will you spend your time will yours be time well spent

be time well spent

be time well spent thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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