7/15/02

LC020715

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST HAS BEEN CALLED THE NEW NAPA VALLEY AND WINEMAKERS THERE SAY EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF THE ACTION.

NORM BENSON>> RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE IN THE WINE BUSINESS. EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER WANTS TO BE IN THE WINE BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S COOL. YOU GET PEOPLE THAT WILL CALL YOU, PEOPLE THAT KNOW YOU THAT WILL CALL YOU UP, OR THAT MET YOU THROUGH YOUR WINES, AND THEY JUST WANT TO THROW MONEY AT YOU.

VAL>> GOT MEMORY PROBLEMS? IF YOU DO, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. BUT IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAVE YOUR BRAIN AND EVEN LOWER THE RISK OF GETTING ALZHEIMER'S? TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM A DOCTOR WHO CLAIMS HE HAS THE ANSWERS ON HOW TO STAY MENTALLY FIT.

JESS>> LATIN MUSIC IS ARGUABLY THE MOST POPULAR SOUND IN THE WORLD AND, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TUNED IN, GET READY FOR SOME SURPRISES.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> LATIN ROCK, OR ROCK EN ESPANOL, IS THE NEW WAVE OF LATIN MUSIC AND IT'S MAKING THE LEAP TO NON-LATINO AUDIENCES. TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH THE PUBLISHER OF THE MAGAZINE "LA BANDA ELASTICA", THE VOICE OF THIS NEW AMERICAN MUSIC SCENE.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

TONIGHT WE'RE HEADED TO WINE COUNTRY AND WE DON'T MEAN NAPA OR SONOMA. OUR DESTINATION IS CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST, A PLACE WHERE THE WINE INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN ROOT IN A MAJOR WAY.

VAL>> BUT AS NEW VINEYARDS BLANKET THE REGION BETWEEN SANTA BARBARA AND SAN FRANCISCO, SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING "ENOUGH ALREADY". THEY CALL IT THE "NAPAFICATION" OF THE CENTRAL COAST AND, AS SAUL GONZALEZ REPORTS, IT ISN'T MEANT AS A COMPLIMENT.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> BORDEAUX, BURGUNDY, TUSCANY AND NAPA. THESE ARE THE HOLY GROUNDS OF WINE. BUT HERE ON CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST, A NEW WINE COUNTRY IS EMERGING. VINE BY VINE, WINERY BY WINERY, THIS STRETCH OF LAND BETWEEN MONTEREY AND SANTA BARBARA IS FAST BECOMING THE KINGDOM OF THE GRAPE.

JULY ACKERMAN>> VINEYARDS AND WINERIES ARE GOING IN LITERALLY DAILY. IT'S BEEN KIND OF A CHALLENGE JUST TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> JULY ACKERMAN IS PRESIDENT OF THE PASO ROBLES VINTNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATION, A SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY WINE INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP.

JULY ACKERMAN>> WE ARE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH ON THE CENTRAL COAST ACROSS THE BOARD BOTH IN VINEYARDS AND IN WINERIES. I'D SAY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE DOUBLED OUR PLANTED ACREAGE IN TERMS OF WINE GRAPES.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> WARM DAYS, COOL NIGHTS AND, MOST OF ALL, GOOD SOIL MAKES THE CENTRAL COAST A PERFECT PLACE TO GROW WINE GRAPES.

DON ACKERMAN>> WELL, WE HAVE GREAT VINEYARD SOILS. THE SOILS ARE GENERALLY LIMITING. THEY'RE ROCKY SOILS. THEY MAY NOT BE THE SOIL THAT YOU'D CHOOSE TO PLANT A VEGETABLE GARDEN, BUT IT'S GREAT SOILS FOR GRAPES BECAUSE IT LIMITS THE GROWTH AND HELPS CONCENTRATE THE FLAVORS IN THE FRUIT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY AFTER IS THE FRUIT, NOT THE FOLIAGE.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> YET MORE THAN PREMIUM SOILS, IT'S THE QUANTITY OF LAND AVAILABLE ON THE CENTRAL COAST THAT'S LED THE CALIFORNIA WINE INDUSTRY TO PLANT ITS ROOTS HERE.

CHUCK ORTMAN>> THERE'S NOT MUCH DIRT OR LAND LEFT IN NAPA AND SONOMA OR, IF IT IS, IT'S VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE, WHERE IN THIS AREA IT HASN'T REACHED THE EXPENSE THAT LAND IS UP THERE.

JULY ACKERMAN>> VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR NATIONAL BRAND THAT YOU WOULD SEE ON A GROCERY STORE SHELF IS EITHER BUYING FRUIT HERE, PLANTING VINEYARDS HERE OR ESTABLISHING CRUSH FACILITIES HERE. WE'VE GOT GALLO, MONDAVI, KENDALL JACKSON, FETZER -- I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT, BUT YOU NAME IT, THEY'RE HERE IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. THEY ARE HERE.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> THE CENTRAL COAST VINEYARD BOOM, HOWEVER, IS DRIVEN NOT ONLY BY THE GIANTS OF THE BUSINESS WHO MAKE THEIR WINE IN QUANTITIES. IT'S ALSO THE RESULT OF SMALL ENTREPRENEURS LIKE NORM BENSON, FOUNDER AND VINTNER OF DARK STAR WINERY.

NORM BENSON>> RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE IN THE WINE BUSINESS. EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER WANTS TO BE IN THE WINE BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S COOL.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> NORM SAYS IT'S THE ROMANCE OF VINEYARD LIFE THAT DRAWS MANY INVESTORS WITH DEEP POCKETS TO THE CENTRAL COAST WINE WORLD.

NORM BENSON>> WE HAVE PEOPLE EVERY WEEKEND IN OUR TASTING ROOM FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND HERE IN FRONT OF ME AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, MAN, YOU HAVE THE GREATEST LIFE. THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO. THIS IS EVERYTHING TO ME. HOW DO I GET INTO THIS BUSINESS?" AND YOU GET PEOPLE THAT WILL CALL YOU UP, PEOPLE THAT KNOW YOU THAT WILL CALL YOU UP, OR THAT HAVE MET YOU THROUGH YOUR WINES AND THEY JUST WANT TO THROW MONEY AT YOU.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> INVESTOR ENTHUSIASM STEMS FROM AMERICA'S INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF WINE IN THE 1990'S AND THE GROWING POPULARITY OF PREMIUM VARIETAL LABELS.

JULY ACKERMAN>> CONSUMERS WANT WHAT WE CAN GROW HERE. THEY WANT QUALITY BEVERAGES REALLY IN EVERYTHING. I MEAN, THE ECONOMY IS GOOD, PEOPLE ARE DRINKING BETTER WATER, BETTER BEER, BETTER TEA, SPECIALTY COFFEES AND BETTER WINES. SO WE CAN GROW HERE ON THE COAST QUALITY WINES AT THE RIGHT PRICES FOR WHAT CONSUMERS ARE REALLY WANTING.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> WINEMAKERS AND VINEYARD OWNERS ARE CERTAINLY TOASTED FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS ON CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST, BUT WITH THE GRAPE HAS COME CONTROVERSY. FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE ARRIVAL OF THE WINE INDUSTRY HAS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTHS.

PAT VEESART>> IF YOU LOOK BEHIND US WHERE I'M LOOKING OFF HERE, THERE'S HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF GRAPES. THAT'S ALL THERE IS. THERE IS NO DIVERSITY AT ALL. THERE IS NO WILDLIFE. THERE'S NOTHING BUT GRAPES.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> MEET PAT VEESART, A SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP CALLED ECOSLO. LIKE OTHER CRITICS OF THE WINE INDUSTRY, VEESART WORRIES ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF RE-CARPETING SO MUCH OF THE CENTRAL COAST'S RURAL LANDSCAPE WITH SO MANY NEW VINEYARDS.

PAT VEESART>> NATURE ABHORS SAMENESS. IN NATURE, THINGS THAT ARE DIVERSE SURVIVE AND THINGS THAT ARE THE SAME DON'T SURVIVE. BUT WHEN YOU GO IN AND UTTERLY REPLACE EVERYTHING WITH ONE SINGLE CROP, YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A FALL. YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR -- IN A BIOLOGICAL SENSE, AN ECOSYSTEM CAN'T FUNCTION IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, SO IT'S NOT A GOOD THING. AND EVEN IN SMALL FARMING OPERATIONS, THERE IS SOME DIVERSITY.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> TREES HAVE BEEN AT THE ROOT OF MANY TENSIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND VINEYARD OWNERS. LOOKING TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW VINES, SOME GRAPE GROWERS HAVE TORN OUT HUNDREDS OF OAK TREES. AERIAL PHOTOS SHOWED THE TREES' DESTRUCTION ON JUST ONE PARCEL OF LAND. HERE'S THE PROPERTY BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE VINEYARD AND NOW AFTER.

WHEN WINE PRODUCER, KENDALL JACKSON, TORE OUT OVER 800 TREES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, THE COMPANY PROVOKED ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO DRAFT A BALLOT INITIATIVE STRENGTHENING LAND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS OF THE WINE INDUSTRY. THE PROPOSITION FAILED, YET PUBLIC FUROR OVER THE DESTRUCTION OF OAKS HAS MADE VINEYARD OWNERS FAR MORE RELUCTANT TO SACRIFICE TREES FOR VINES.

PAT VEESART>> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP KENDALL JACKSON AND THANK THEM PROFUSELY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE BECAUSE NOW THE VINEYARD INDUSTRY IS SCARED TO DEATH TO EVEN TOUCH AN OAK TREE.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> ECHOING OTHERS IN THE WINE INDUSTRY, DARK STAR WINERY'S NORM BENSON SAYS ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE GONE TOO FAR IN THEIR CRITICISMS.

NORM BENSON>> HOW EVIL CAN WE BE IF WE TAKE A DRY FIELD THAT, YOU KNOW, BARLEY WAS ON AND WE PLANT 17,000 LIVING PLANTS THAT GROW AND PRODUCE GREAT THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, FOR AT LEAST NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR ARE GREEN?

SAUL GONZALEZ>> CRITICS OF THE WINE INDUSTRY ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE RECENT LOVE AFFAIR WITH WINERIES AND VINEYARDS IS CHANGING THE CENTRAL COAST'S SOCIAL LANDSCAPE.

PAT VEESART>> I WOULD LIKE IT NOT TO TURN INTO NAPA COUNTY, THE GENTRIFICATION OF SMALL TOWNS, THE WEALTHIER CLASS OF PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO THE AREA. THERE'S THE ISSUE OF WINERIES AND THE WINERIES BRING WITH THEM WINEMAKER DINNERS, WEDDINGS, RESTAURANTS, BEDS AND BREAKFASTS, WINE-TASTING TOURS. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON A RURAL COUNTY LIKE OURS.

JULY ACKERMAN>> IT DOES CHANGE THE PLACE AND I THINK IT CHANGES THE PLACE FOR THE BETTER. I KNOW I MOVED HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THERE WASN'T A NICE PLACE TO EAT IN TOWN. I HAD TO DRIVE TWO HOURS TO SHOP. IT'S NOT THAT WAY ANYMORE. THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT COME AS A RESULT OF THE INDUSTRY'S PRESENCE AND AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC STRENGTH THAT THE INDUSTRY BRINGS TO THE AREA.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> AS CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITIES TASTE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE WINE INDUSTRY, ONE THING IS CLEAR. THIS REGION'S POTENTIAL AS CALIFORNIA'S NEW WINE COUNTRY IS JUST STARTING TO RIPEN ON THE VINE. I'M SAUL GONZALEZ FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> WINE IS A TEN BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA AND, EVEN IN A SOFT ECONOMY, SOME OF THE TOP VINTAGES ARE STILL SELLING AT HUGE PRICES SURPASSING THE ONCE UNBEATABLE WINES OF FRANCE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE VOTERS APPROVED PROP 36, A MEASURE THAT PRESCRIBES TREATMENT INSTEAD OF JAIL FOR SOME DRUG OFFENDERS. SO IS IT WORKING? WE'LL FIND OUT FROM SOME FORMER ADDICTS.

>> I'M FORTY YEARS OLD AND TWENTY YEARS JUST WENT LIKE THAT.

>> TWENTY YEARS ON METH?

>> TWENTY YEARS ON METH. IT JUST WENT LIKE THAT.

JESS>> IT IS NO SECRET THAT OUR BRAINS, LIKE THE REST OF OUR BODY PARTS, MAY JUST DETERIORATE WITH AGE, BUT WHY DO SOME PEOPLE REMAIN SHARPER THAN OTHERS AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISEASES SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S THAT THREATEN TO DESTROY THE BRAIN? THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED IN A NEW BOOK, "SAVING YOUR BRAIN", AND WE'RE JOINED NOW BY THE AUTHOR.

VAL>> AND THAT AUTHOR IS DR. JEFF VICTOROFF. HE IS A PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY AT USC'S KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S A PLEASURE.

JESS>> IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE BOOK IS A GOOD-SIZED BOOK, THERE MUST BE A QUICK ANSWER TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OUR BRAINS.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> OH, YEAH. GIVE ME THE WINNING LOTTERY NUMBER AND I PROMISE I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES (LAUGHTER). THERE ARE SOME QUICK ANSWERS AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S SOMETHING I WOULD CALL MY FOUR-BY-FOUR PLAN WHICH WOULD PERHAPS BE THE QUICKEST ANSWER YOU CAN GET.

VAL>> IN FACT, I THINK WE HAVE IT ON A GRAPHIC, SO WHILE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> OKAY.

VAL>> THE FIRST ONE SAYS "EAT FISH".

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> EAT FISH. IF YOU EAT FOUR OUNCES OF FATTY FISH FOUR TIMES A WEEK, YOU'LL BE DOING SOMETHING MAGNIFICENT FOR YOUR BRAIN. BY FATTY FISH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SARDINES AND SALMON AND MACKEREL AND TUNA. THESE FATTY COLDWATER FISH HAVE OMEGA THREE FATTY ACIDS IN THEM. THIS IS A FORM OF FATTY ACID THAT'S ALMOST IDEAL FOR THE BODY AND IT WILL SAVE YOUR BRAIN IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.

ONE THING IT WILL DO IS CONTROL OXIDATION IN YOUR BRAIN AND THAT WILL HELP PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. ANOTHER THING IT WILL DO IS KEEP THE ARTERIES OPEN, CLEAN AS A WHISTLE, AND HOPEFULLY LETTING MORE BLOOD FLOW UP TO YOUR BRAIN AND THAT WILL KEEP YOU THINKING CLEARLY.

JESS>> FOUR OUNCES OF FISH FOUR TIMES A WEEK, AND "WALKING"?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> WALKING. THE CANADIAN STUDY OF HEALTH AND AGING SHOWED US THAT PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE WERE BRIGHTER. THEY JUST WERE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE MEMORY LOSS AND LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO WALKED BRISKLY AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK HAD A 33 PERCENT LOWER RATE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

VAL>> THAT'S A BIG PERCENTAGE.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> IT'S ENOUGH. ACTUALLY, IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY EXCITED, THOSE WHO DID VIGOROUS EXERCISE, THAT IS, EXERCISE AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER LEVEL -- NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AEROBIC EXERCISE -- HAD A 52 PERCENT LOWER RATE OF ALZHEIMER'S. BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN DO VIGOROUS EXERCISE AND THERE ARE SO MANY ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF FOLKS, YOU KNOW, DOING MARATHONS THAT PERHAPS THE EASIEST RULE FOR ALL OF US IS WALK THIRTY MINUTES A DAY FOUR OR MORE TIMES A WEEK AND IT WILL REV UP THE BRAIN.

VAL>> NEXT ON THE LIST IS ONE WE'LL ALL MANAGE.

JESS>> EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT.

VAL>> IT'LL BE TOUGH, BUT WE'LL MANAGE (LAUGHTER). "DRINK WINE".

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> YES. THERE HAVE BEEN NOW STUDIES -- THE FIRST STUDY CAME OUT OF BORDEAUX, SO WE ALL TOOK IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT (LAUGHTER), WHICH SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WHO DRANK ONE TO THREE GLASSES OF WINE A WEEK -- I'M SORRY, A DAY -- HAD BETTER COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND A LOWER RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. WE HAD OUR DOUBTS ABOUT THAT UNTIL A STUDY CAME OUT FROM HOLLAND WHERE DRINKING IS JUST NOT THAT BIG A THING, PARTICULARLY WINE DRINKING. THEY FOUND OUT THAT WINE DRINKERS, AGAIN, THE LIGHT DRINKERS, HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVEL OF COGNITION.

JESS>> THE LIGHT DRINKERS.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> LIGHT DRINKERS.

VAL>> MEANING ABOUT HOW MUCH WOULD BE GOOD?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> WELL, ANYWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND SEVEN GLASSES OF WINE A WEEK I THINK WOULD BE JUST ABOUT RIGHT. IF YOU WANTED AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER IT, FOUR OUNCES OF WINE FOUR TIMES A WEEK.

JESS>> RED OR WHITE?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> GOOD QUESTION. RED WINE GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IT HAS AN ANTIOXIDANT CALLED RESVERITROL -- NOW DON'T ASK ME TO REPEAT THAT -- BUT RESVERITROL IS A VERY NICE ANTIOXIDANT. YOU CAN ALSO GET IT IN BLUEBERRIES AND YOU CAN GET IT IN GRAPE JUICE. BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE REASON THAT WINE IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN.

YOU CAN GET THE BENEFITS FROM WHITE WINE AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE RISK OF MIGRAINE HEADACHES THAT SOME PEOPLE GET FROM DRINKING RED WINE. SO AGAIN, IF YOU WANT AN EASY RECOMMENDATION THAT VIRTUALLY ANY ADULT CAN FOLLOW, EXCEPT THOSE WHO HAVE A PROBLEM CONTROLLING THEIR ALCOHOL INTAKE, WE SHOULD HAVE FEWER HEAVY DRINKERS AND MANY MORE LIGHT DRINKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> AND FINALLY, "TAKE VITAMIN E".

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> VITAMIN E.

VAL>> BUT THERE'S A CAVEAT: A CERTAIN KIND OF VITAMIN E.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> OH, YEAH. WELL, I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO WEBB ROSS. HE'S A CRAZY MAN, A WONDERFUL GUY, A NEUROLOGIST THAT I TRAINED WITH AND HE'S NOW OUT RUNNING THE HONOLULU AGING PROJECT. WEBB AND HIS TEAM DISCOVERED THAT ELDERLY MEN, JAPANESE-AMERICAN MEN, WHO HAD TAKEN VITAMIN E WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE INTACT COGNITION AND GOOD THINKING ABILITIES AND GOOD MEMORY THAN THOSE WHO HADN'T. THAT'S ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE COMES FROM A STUDY OF THE ARTERIES THAT FEED THE BRAIN, THE CAROTID ARTERIES. PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIGHER VITAMIN E LEVELS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FREE-FLOWING CAROTID ARTERIES. SO THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD REASONS TO THINK THAT VITAMIN E IS THE ANTIOXIDANT THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE YOUR BRAIN.

JESS>> BUT NATURAL VITAMIN E.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> NATURAL VITAMIN E. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT. THERE'S TWO FORMS. YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THEM ON THE GROCERY STORE SHELF OR IN YOUR PHARMACY. ONE IS REGULAR OLD GARDEN-VARIETY VITAMIN E AND IT'S DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL IF YOU LOOK AT THE LITTLE LETTERS. THAT STUFF IS OKAY, BUT NOT GREAT. NATURAL VITAMIN E --

VAL>> -- WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE MORE EXPENSIVE ONE, IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> IT COSTS MORE, IT'S DERIVED FROM VEGETABLE OIL AND IT'S PURE D-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL. THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF. IT'S A MORE POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT AND YOU ABSORB IT BETTER WHEN YOU TAKE IT.

VAL>> SO JUST LOOK FOR NATURAL AND THE ONE THAT'S MORE EXPENSIVE (LAUGHTER).

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND 400 INTERNATIONAL --

JESS>> -- ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT, WITH THE DIETS WE HAVE TODAY, PARTICULARLY IF WE EAT QUITE A FEW GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES, WE STILL NEED VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> YES, AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR AMERICANS TO GET ENOUGH VITAMIN E FROM THEIR DIETS TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT. I MEAN, YOU CAN SATISFY THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS OF 22 INTERNATIONAL UNITS JUST FINE BY DIETARY MEANS, BUT THE EVIDENCE FROM EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES, THAT IS, STUDIES OF LOTS OF FOLKS AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR MINDS AND BRAINS, SUGGEST THAT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS GET THE BENEFITS.

JESS>> 400 UNITS?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> 400 INTERNATIONAL UNITS.

VAL>> SO THOSE ARE THE FOUR THINGS WE CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. NOW WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO GET ALZHEIMER'S?

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> OH, YOU ASKED THE TOUGH ONE. THERE IS A SIMPLE ANSWER AND A COMPLEX ANSWER. THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING WILL HAVE ALZHEIMER'S TYPE CHANGES IN THEIR BRAIN IF THEY LIVE LONG ENOUGH AND THAT'S A TERRIFYING THOUGHT, BUT IT'S REASSURING NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

THE MORE COMPLEX ANSWER IS THAT ABOUT FIVE PERCENT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALZHEIMER'S RUNNING IN THEIR FAMILIES. THOSE FOLKS HAVE A TOUGH TIME OF IT, BUT FOR THE 95 PERCENT OF US THAT DON'T, WE HAVE MANY THINGS WE CAN DO TO SAVE OUR BRAINS.

VAL>> AMONG THEM, THOSE FOUR THINGS. DR. VICTOROFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING A REALLY IMPORTANT AND USEFUL BOOK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THE NAME OF THE BOOK, AGAIN, IS "SAVING YOUR BRAIN" BY DR. JEFF VICTOROFF. THANKS.

DR. JEFF VICTOROFF>> THANKS, VAL.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
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JESS>> THE LATIN BEAT IS THE MOST POPULAR MUSIC IN THE WORLD. IN DANCE CLUBS ALL ACROSS AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD, FOR THAT MATTER, YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE DANCING TO SALSA MUSIC.

VAL>> AND NOW AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF LATIN MUSIC IS MOVING ONTO THE WORLD SCENE.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IT IS CALLED ROCK EN ESPANOL AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, BUT ONLY RECENTLY HAS IT BECOME PART OF THE MAINSTREAM.

JESS>> TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY A PIONEER OF THE MOVEMENT, EMILIO MORALES. HE IS THE FOUNDER OF "LA BANDA ELASTICA", A MAGAZINE THAT IS THE VOICE OF THIS EMERGING LATIN BEAT. IT IS A DISTINCTLY LATIN BEAT, BUT WITH A VERY CONTEMPORARY ROCK SOUND.

EMILIO MORALES>> EXACTLY. LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS AND HAS BECOME REALLY POPULAR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD NOW.

VAL>> AND ALONG WITH THE GROWTH AND THE POPULARITY OF THE MUSIC HAS BEEN THE GROWTH IN YOUR MAGAZINE.

EMILIO MORALES>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> IT STARTED OFF -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF IT -- JUST WAS A BLACK AND WHITE FLYER. IT STARTED, WHAT, IN 1992 WITH SOMETHING VERY, VERY SIMPLE. HERE IT IS, JUST A LITTLE FLYER KIND OF THING.

EMILIO MORALES>> EXACTLY. IT WAS BASICALLY A LABOR OF LOVE BECAUSE WE STARTED THE MAGAZINE JUST TO GIVE VOICE TO THIS NEW MUSIC GENRE THAT WASN'T COVERED ANYWHERE. SO BACK THEN, I WAS STILL PLAYING WITH A FEW LOCAL BANDS AND I KEPT MY DAY JOB ALSO BECAUSE IT WASN'T LIKE A BUSINESS VENTURE. FORTUNATELY, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE HAVE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW THE MOST RECOGNIZED MAGAZINE IN THE COUNTRY OF THIS GENRE.

JESS>> BUT NOW IT'S A VERY, VERY SLICK FULL-COLOR MAGAZINE, AND ALSO BILINGUAL?

EMILIO MORALES>> IT'S BILINGUAL. MOSTLY I THINK WE HAVE 75 PERCENT OF THE CONTENT IN SPANISH AND THE REST IS IN ENGLISH, BUT WE ARE BECOMING MORE BILINGUAL AS WE GO ALONG.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, IT MUST BE HARD TO ACTUALLY LAUNCH A SUCCESSFUL MAGAZINE. THE MORTALITY RATE AMONG MAGAZINES IS VERY, VERY HIGH. WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHEN YOU WERE ON THE VERGE OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS?

EMILIO MORALES>> MANY TIMES, BELIEVE ME. IT WAS VERY HARD. AT THE BEGINNING, I THINK THE FIRST FOUR YEARS WERE THE TOUGHEST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T START THE MAGAZINE AS A BUSINESS. WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE MUSIC A VOICE. BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO FIND ADVERTISERS THAT WERE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK IN THIS MUSIC AND GIVE US A CHANCE.

JESS>> WELL, THE AUDIENCE FOR LATIN MUSIC IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. IT'S CERTAINLY CROSSOVER. LATIN JAZZ IS ENORMOUSLY POPULAR AMONG JAZZ AFICIONADOS.

EMILIO MORALES>> AFICIONADOS, RIGHT.

VAL>> AND WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED THE MAGAZINE, DID YOU SAY TO YOURSELF I REALLY DO WANT THIS TO BE MY MAIN LOVE? BECAUSE YOU'RE ALSO A GUITARIST. YOU'RE A GUITARIST, A MUSICIAN --

EMILIO MORALES>> -- WELL, MAINLY I'M A GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND I WAS MOONLIGHTING AS A MUSICIAN. EVERYWHERE WE WENT -- I MEAN, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FORUM TO EXPRESS AND TO SHOWCASE THE MUSIC, SO THROUGH THE MAGAZINE, WE FOUND AN AVENUE TO KIND OF GIVE THESE BANDS A FORUM TO BE SEEN.

VAL>> AND A NICHE THAT HAD NOT BEEN FILLED AT ALL. WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE MUSIC. WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES -- HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE -- WHAT DISTINGUISHES ROCK EN ESPANOL FROM AMERICAN POP OR AMERICAN ROCK?

EMILIO MORALES>> WELL, BEING THE DOMINANT CULTURE, AMERICA HAS A HUGE INFLUENCE IN POP CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SO IF YOU GO TO ARGENTINA OR SPAIN OR MEXICO, THE MOST POPULAR RADIO STATIONS PLAY AMERICAN MUSIC. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE LATIN MUSIC IS THAT THEY TAKE THE ELEMENTS OF AMERICAN ROCK AND THEY MIX IT WITH THE LOCAL FOLK ELEMENTS, SO YOU HEAR BANDS FROM MEXICO THAT HAVE A VERY DISTINCTIVE SOUND. IT'S NOT EVEN MEXICAN, NOT AMERICAN, IT'S SOMETHING NEW. BRAZILIAN ROCK, FOR INSTANCE, HAS THAT SAMBA ELEMENT WITH FUNK. BANDS FROM ARGENTINA HAVE A VERY UNIQUE SOUND BECAUSE THEY MIX BOTH SUCCESSFULLY, THE ANGLO ROCK MUSIC WITH THEIR OWN NATIVE ETHNIC ELEMENTS.

VAL>> BUT ARE THEY -- IS IT A REACTION AND A RESPONSE TO AMERICAN ROCK OR IS AMERICAN ROCK RESPONDING TO LATIN?

EMILIO MORALES>> I THINK IT'S A RESPONSE TO AMERICAN ROCK ALSO BECAUSE LATELY I THINK AMERICAN ROCK LACKS THE ENERGY AND THE URGENCY THAT IT USED TO HAVE BACK IN THE 50'S AND 60'S. IT'S NOW MORE COMMERCIAL, I THINK. BUT THESE LATIN BANDS HAVE THAT URGENCY, THAT VIBRANCY, THAT AMERICAN ROCK USED TO HAVE.

JESS>> WELL, IT'S TURNABOUT-FAIR PLAY BECAUSE LATIN MUSIC INFLUENCED SO MUCH OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC FOR MANY YEARS.

EMILIO MORALES>> RIGHT.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE TASTE OF ROCK EN ESPANOL. LET'S LISTEN.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> THEY'VE DEFINITELY GOT THE MTV PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES DOWN, DON'T THEY? (LAUGHTER) THAT'S VERY AMERICAN.

EMILIO MORALES>> RIGHT. THAT'S THE ARGENTINEAN COMPOSER (INAUDIBLE) AND HE IS LIKE THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN OF ARGENTINEAN ROCK. HE IS VERY UNUSUAL.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) HE DEFINITELY LOOKS IT. NOW HE IS SINGING IN SPANISH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE ARTISTS ARE LEARNING OR SINGING MORE IN ENGLISH?

EMILIO MORALES>> YEAH. SOME OF THEM ARE USING THIS CROSSOVER --

JESS>> -- YEAH, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE CROSSOVER.

EMILIO MORALES>> EXACTLY, AS A WAY TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HEALTHY OR NOT BECAUSE THEY LOSE --

VAL>> -- I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU LIKE THAT IDEA.

EMILIO MORALES>> -- SOME OF THEIR OWN IDENTITY. FOR INSTANCE, CHAQUITA. SHE WRITES VERY WELL-CRAFTED SONGS. HER LANGUAGE IS VERY RICH IN SPANISH, BUT WHEN IT TRANSLATES INTO ENGLISH, SHE LOSES SOME OF THAT. IT'S NOT THE SAME, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HEALTHY OR NOT. WE'LL SEE. ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

VAL>> WE'LL SEE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WITH SO MUCH POPULARITY IN SPANISH LYRICS, I WOULD THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE RICHNESS OF IT.

EMILIO MORALES>> HOPEFULLY.

JESS>> IN ADDITION TO YOUR MAGAZINE, THE PROLIFERATION OF SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO AND MUSIC ON RADIO HAS REALLY SPREAD THE WORD, HASN'T IT?

EMILIO MORALES>> OH, DEFINITELY, BUT STILL WE NEED MORE SUPPORT BECAUSE MAINSTREAM LATIN RADIO IS GEARED TOWARDS MAINSTREAM MUSIC AND LATIN ROCK MUSIC IS STILL A LITTLE BIT UNDERGROUND.

JESS>> AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC. "LA BANDA ELASTICA" PUTS ON MONTHLY CONCERTS CALLED "LOS NOCHES DEL DRAGON". FOR INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING SHOWS, CHECK THE MAGAZINE'S WEBSITE AT WWW.LABANDAELASTICA.COM OR CALL THE NUMBER CURRENTLY ON YOUR SCREEN.

[626-337-8800]

VAL>> EMILIO MORALES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

EMILIO MORALES>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INTEREST.

JESS>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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