Seniors hacking the lottery, living their best lives and inventing plant-based fuels | Full Episodes
60 Minutes・2 minutes read
Americans spend billions on state lotteries annually, with the retired couple, Jerry and Marge Selby, winning millions by discovering loopholes and forming investment strategies. A study on individuals over 90 found that exercise, social engagement, moderate alcohol consumption, and gaining weight as we age can impact longevity and cognitive health, highlighting new findings on dementia and brain pathology.
Insights
- Jerry and Marge Selby discovered a loophole in the Windfall lottery game, using a roll down feature to boost payouts significantly, leading to multiple wins and forming a corporation to share the strategy with others, ultimately grossing over $26 million legally.
- The 90 Plus study delves into longevity factors, revealing that exercise, social engagement, moderate alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and maintaining weight as we age impact cognitive health and resilience in aging populations, challenging assumptions about dementia causes and diagnoses, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to enhance aging with style and cognitive function intact.
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Recent questions
How did Jerry and Marge Selby win millions?
Jerry and Marge Selby discovered a loophole in the Windfall lottery game, utilizing a feature called a roll down to boost payouts. By investing $3,600 in Windfall tickets and later betting $88,000, they nearly doubled their winnings. They formed a corporation, GS Investment Strategies, inviting family and friends to invest $500 each in their lottery winnings. The Selbys, along with local investors, played Windfall and later the Cash Winfall game in Massachusetts, driving 900 miles to buy tickets during roll downs, investing over $600,000 per play. They earned millions legally through high-volume betting, grossing over $26 million before taxes.
What factors impact longevity according to a study?
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health aimed to investigate longevity in individuals over 90 years old. The study found that exercise significantly impacts longevity, with even 15 minutes a day making a difference, and 45 minutes being optimal. Non-physical activities like book clubs and socializing were also beneficial for longevity. Moderate alcohol consumption and caffeine intake equivalent to 1-3 cups of coffee a day were associated with living longer. Maintaining or gaining weight as you age was recommended for longevity, with being a little overweight being preferable to being underweight. Vitamins like E, A, C, and calcium did not show a significant impact on lifespan.
What did the 90 Plus study focus on?
The 90 Plus study at the University of California Irvine focuses on individuals aged 90 and above to understand factors associated with longer life, such as exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, social engagement, and gaining weight as we age. The study delves into memory and dementia, exploring the complexities of what causes dementia beyond Alzheimer's disease, including newly identified causes like TDP43 protein found in ALS patients. The study team conducts cognitive tests by phone due to COVID-19, with participants showcasing their sharp memory and cognitive abilities. After participants pass away, their brains are examined to reveal surprising findings, challenging assumptions about dementia diagnoses.
How did Marshall Medoff contribute to environmental sustainability?
Marshall Medoff, an amateur scientist, dedicated himself to finding environmentally friendly transportation fuels to combat global warming. He focused on extracting sugar molecules from plant cellulose to create transportation fuel, eventually using electron accelerators to break apart plant biomass and release sugars. Medoff's innovative use of electron accelerators attracted investors, leading to the establishment of a factory in Washington to produce biofuels and bioplastics. His products aim to solve environmental and health issues, with biofuels like ethanol being significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional corn ethanol, with a 77% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
What did the investigation find about the lottery system?
The investigation found no corruption in the lottery system, with the state making $12 million, and the Selbys grossing over $26 million before taxes. Jerry and Marge Selby, along with a group of MIT students, legally earned millions through high-volume betting in the Cash Winfall game. The retired couple from Michigan discovered loopholes in lottery games, utilizing features like roll downs to boost payouts. They invested significant amounts in tickets, forming a corporation to involve family and friends in their lottery winnings. Despite their success, the investigation did not uncover any fraudulent activities in the lottery system.
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Summary
00:00
Lottery Loophole: Couple Wins Millions Legally
- Americans spent over $80 billion on state lotteries last year, averaging $250 per citizen, surpassing spending on concerts, sporting events, and movie tickets combined.
- More than 25 states earned more from lottery proceeds than corporate income tax.
- The retired couple, Jerry and Marge Selby from Michigan, won $26 million from various state lotteries multiple times.
- Jerry and Marge Selby discovered a loophole in the Windfall lottery game, utilizing a feature called a roll down to boost payouts.
- They invested $3,600 in Windfall tickets, winning $6,300, and later bet $88,000, nearly doubling their winnings.
- Jerry formed a corporation, GS Investment Strategies, inviting family and friends to invest $500 each in their lottery winnings.
- The Selbys, along with local investors, played Windfall, earning significant returns and using the money for education and personal expenses.
- They later discovered the Cash Winfall game in Massachusetts, driving 900 miles to buy tickets during roll downs, investing over $600,000 per play.
- The Selbys and a group of MIT students dominated Cash Winfall, earning millions legally through high-volume betting.
- The investigation found no corruption in the lottery system, with the state making $12 million, and the Selbys grossing over $26 million before taxes.
16:45
"Factors Impacting Longevity in Elderly Individuals"
- A study funded by the National Institutes of Health aimed to investigate longevity in individuals over 90 years old.
- Over 1,600 participants were enrolled in the study, undergoing thorough physical and cognitive assessments every 6 months.
- Exercise was found to significantly impact longevity, with even 15 minutes a day making a difference, and 45 minutes being optimal.
- Non-physical activities like book clubs and socializing were also beneficial for longevity.
- Vitamins like E, A, C, and calcium did not show a significant impact on lifespan, but moderate alcohol consumption was associated with living longer.
- Caffeine intake equivalent to 1-3 cups of coffee a day was found to be better than more or none.
- Maintaining or gaining weight as you age was recommended for longevity, with being a little overweight being preferable to being underweight.
- The study also delved into Alzheimer's and dementia, with participants asked to donate their brains after death for further research.
- The risk of developing dementia doubles every 5 years starting at age 65, with high blood pressure potentially lowering the risk of dementia in older individuals.
- Microscopic strokes called micro infarcts were found to be a potential cause of dementia in the oldest old, highlighting the importance of studying this age group for accurate findings.
34:54
Unraveling dementia mysteries in the elderly
- The 90 Plus study at the University of California Irvine focuses on individuals aged 90 and above to understand factors associated with longer life, such as exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, social engagement, and gaining weight as we age.
- The study now delves into memory and dementia, exploring the complexities of what causes dementia beyond Alzheimer's disease, including newly identified causes like TDP43 protein found in ALS patients.
- The study team conducts cognitive tests by phone due to COVID-19, with participants like Lou and Helen acing the tests, showcasing their sharp memory and cognitive abilities.
- Some participants, like Ruthie, are struggling with memory loss, with Dr. Kos emphasizing the distinction between Alzheimer's disease and dementia, highlighting the syndrome's various causes.
- After participants pass away, their brains are examined to reveal surprising findings, such as Ted not having Alzheimer's disease but showing TDP43 protein, a breakthrough in understanding dementia in the elderly.
- The study uncovers that many individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's in their '90s may actually have different conditions like microinfarcts or hippocampal sclerosis, leading to a reevaluation of dementia diagnoses.
- Henry, a participant with clear thinking, had high levels of plaques, Tangles, and TDP43 in his brain, challenging the assumption that dementia was inevitable with such brain pathology.
- Sid, another participant, displays resilience against dementia despite having high levels of Alzheimer's and vascular disease, suggesting a potential genetic or multifactorial basis for resilience.
- The study continues to unravel new mysteries and complexities surrounding dementia, resilience, and aging, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research to help individuals age with style and cognitive function intact.
- The 90 Plus study's dedication to understanding the secrets of the oldest old aims to benefit not only the elderly but also younger generations, offering insights into longevity, cognitive health, and resilience in aging populations.
53:36
Amateur Scientist Creates Eco-Friendly Biofuels
- Marshall Medoff, an amateur scientist, dedicated himself to finding environmentally friendly transportation fuels to combat global warming.
- Medoff focused on extracting sugar molecules from plant cellulose to create transportation fuel, a challenging task due to the difficulty in accessing the sugar.
- He spent over 15 years in seclusion, developing ideas and patenting them, eventually using electron accelerators to break apart plant biomass and release sugars.
- Medoff's innovative use of electron accelerators attracted investors, leading to the establishment of a factory in Washington to produce biofuels and bioplastics.
- His products, like xylos, a sugar that reduces obesity and diabetes, and bioplastics that disintegrate in as little as 11 weeks, aim to solve environmental and health issues.
- Medoff's biofuels, particularly ethanol, are significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional corn ethanol, with a 77% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Despite challenges in scaling up his operation to compete with the oil industry, Medoff's inventions have the potential to make a significant impact on the energy market.
