>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

A LOOK AT NEW ARIZONA LAWS IMPACTING THE STATE'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND ARIZONA CONSUMERS.

ALSO TONIGHT, CONCERNS OVER THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, AND NEW RESEARCH LOOKS AT POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THE NUTRIENT CHOLINE HAS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE RECENTLY COMPLETED STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF LAWS THAT WILL IMPACT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND CONSUMERS.

FOR A RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THESE NEW LAWS, WE WELCOME ALEXIS GLASCOCK, AN ATTORNEY AT FENNEMORE.

S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

BILLS IMPACTING BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS.

WERE THERE MORE OR FEWER THIS SESSION?

>> PROBABLY ON PAR, ABOUT THE SAME.

THERE WERE SOME REALLY GOOD WINS FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> OKAY.

WE WANT TO START WITH CHASE SEAL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THAT IS A BIG DEAL AND A VARIETY OF ECONOMIC WAYS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> REALLY EXCITING, TED.

BASICALLY THE ARIZONA IS ABLE TO RETAIN THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPION BASEBALL, THE DIAMONDBACKS TEAM, AND FOR THE FANS AND FOR BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND THE STATE IN GENERAL FOR TOURISM, THIS IS A HUGE WIN.

>> OKAY.

CRITIC ALSO SAY, THOUGH, THAT THE RESEARCH DOESN'T BEAR THAT OUT.

DOES THE RESEARCH BEAR THAT OUT?

BECAUSE WE KEEP HEARING THAT, AND YET, WE ALSO HEAR IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE ARIZONA'S POSITION TRYING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES FROM ALL OVERNIGHT COUNTRY, AND HAVING A SOLID SPORTS TEAM HERE LIKE THE DIAMONDBACKS, THEY ALMOST WON TWO YEARS AGO.

THERE WAS GREAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT, EVERYBODY WAS SO EXCITED.

IT ATTRACTS BUSINESSES AND HELPS WITH THE DECISION WHEN THEY SEE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY SUPPORTS THEIR HOME TEAMS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT WHEN THEY RELOCATE, AND WE SEE SO MANY COMPANIES NOW MOVING TO ARIZONA.

>> THIS REDIRECTS TAX REVENUE TO THE STADIUM DISTRICT, WHICH THEN THE MONEY GOES TO THE TEAM.

AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING BECAUSE I THINK THEY GOT A POINT HERE NOW.

YOU'VE GOT A VERY RICH OWNER.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF RICH GOING ON HERE.

WHY ARE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THIS?

>> SO WHAT'S REALLY GREAT HERE IS THE PUBLIC'S PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND THE STATE IS GOING TO PUT IN 20 TO $25 MILLION A YEAR, BUT THE TEAM ITSELF IS ALSO GONNA HAVE -- THEY'RE GONNA BEAR THE HEAVIER PART, AND IN THE PAST, THEY SPENT $215 MILLION.

THE TOTAL COST FOR THESE REPAIRS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $500 MILLION.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, THEY'LL HAVE TO FINANCE THAT INVESTMENT, BUT WILL GO TO THE AVERAGE FANS WHO ARE GOING TO GET TO COME IN AND NOW HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, WHICH WAS REALLY SORT OF LACKING, ESPECIALLY IN JULY AND AUGUST.

AND THEN ALSO DURING THE SPRING, THE ROOF WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STADIUM.

ANOTHER BIG WIN.

THEY'RE GONNA PUT UP A BRAND-NEW STATE OF THE ART SCOREBOARD, SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THOSE UPGRADES TO FILL ALSO CAUSE MORE PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN AND SEE THE NEW STADIUM AND SEE THE TEAM.

>> LAST POINT ON THIS, I KNOW THAT IT'S AT JUSTED FOR INFLATION, THAT PLAYS WITH THE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT THERE, THE GOVERNOR THINKS IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

COUNTY, THE CITY OF PHOENIX, NOT SO MUCH.

WHAT DO YOU TELL THOSE WHO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF?

>> WELL, I THINK IN THE LONG RUN IT COMES BACK TO THE ARIZONA TAXPAYERS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENS IS IT CREATES NEW BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN.

THEY ALSO -- WHAT -- PART OF THEIR PLAN IS TO BRING IN HOTELS, MORE RETAIL DOWN THERE.

THAT GROWS THE AREA, MORE APARTMENTS, MORE HOUSING.

ALL OF THAT HELPS TO REALLY ENERGIZE THE PHOENIX ECONOMY DOWNTOWN.

SO I THINK IT'S A BIG WIN FOR ARIZONA IN THE LONG RUN.

>> ANOTHER LAW HERE, YOU'D HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO ME.

LITIGATION FINANCING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, WHERE THE LITIGATION FINANCIER CAN'T -- WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?

>> SO INTERESTING.

THIS IS REALLY A LAW THAT WAS PASSED TO CREATE MORE FAIRNESS BECAUSE THIRD-PARTY FINANCIERS CAN COME IN, AND THEY FINANCE A PLAINTIFF'S LITIGATION AGAINST A BUSINESS OR OTHER DEFENDANTS, AND AS A RESULT THE PARTY THAT IS DEFENDING IT, IS UP AGAINST A BIGGER HURDLE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BILL IS IT PUTS IN CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, SO THAT IT TEMPERS THE ABILITY OF THE THIRD PARTY FINANCIER TO JUST CONTROL THE LITIGATION AND CAUSE THE BUSINESS TO HAVE INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES.

>> WHAT KIND OF CONTROL?

IF I WANT TO GO UP AGAINST MR. BIG OVER HERE AND NEED HELP WITH FINANCES, WHAT IS NOW LIMITED TO ME?

>> SO WHAT THE THIRD PARTY, THEY CANNOT -- I'M JUST GOING TO REFER TO THIS.

THEY CANNOT GO OUT AND EITHER GIVE A REFERRAL FEE TO A LAWYER, A LAW FIRM OR A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR THEM TO SEND A CLIENT TO THEM, BUT ALSO AS THE FINANCIER, THEY CAN HAVE NO SAY IN THE SELECTION OF A LAWYER, CHANGE OF COUNSEL, EXPERT WITNESSES, OR ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION DISCUSSION STRATEGY, AND THERE'S TEETH IN THIS, TED.

IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO OVERSEES THE ARIZONA CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, SEES THAT THEY'VE FILED A SUIT BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S A VIOLATION, THE 10,000 DOLLAR PENALTY FOR EVERY VIOLATION.

SO ONE EMAIL, ONE TEXT IS EASILY GOING TO STAND OUT.

>> SO THE IDEA IS YOUR MONEY IS OKAY.

YOU'RE A FINANCIER, THIS IS WHAT YOU DO, BUT DON'T BE MESSING AROUND WITH THE OTHER STUFF?

>> THAT'S IT EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

IF IT'S GOING TO COME, IN THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FAIR PLAYING FEED FOR BUSINESSES TO DEFEND AND DEVELOP A STRATEGY AGAINST THEM.

>> BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXTENSION WENT FROM 207,000 TO $500,000?

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S GOTTA A BIG WIN FOR BUSINESS.

>> THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR BUSINESS.

AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW, IT WILL HAVE A MULTIPLIER EFFECT IN TERMS OF GENERATING MORE REVENUE IN THE ECONOMY BECAUSE AS THOSE BUSINESSES GO OUT AND BUY MORE PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DEDUCT, IT WHETHER IT'S SUPPLIES OR MATERIALS, HOPEFULLY A LOT OF THAT WILL BE SUPPLIED BY ARIZONA BUSINESSES AND GO BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.

>> SO CAPITAL RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

FROM 207 TO 500.

WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND THESE NUMBERS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST THE FACT THAT THEY WANTED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND MORE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE ATTRACTED TO THAT TAX BENEFIT THEY ARE THEY'RE LOCATING HEAR.

>> BACK TO ATHLETICS, NIL REGULATIONS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES.

SCHOOLS CAN'T PENALIZE THE ATHLETE?

HOW DID THAT -- COULD THEY DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THEY COULD DO IT, FOR 100 YEARS, THE NCAA PROHIBITED ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND INTERESTINGLY IN TODAY'S ARIZONA REPUBLIC, DAVID MCCARRINGLE, AN ATTORNEY, WROTE AN ARTICLE ON THIS EXACT THING.

YESTERDAY THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE IN THE CASE -- A FEDERAL CASE CALLS HOUSE VERSUS NCAA.

BUT ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THAT ARIZONA PASSED A LAW JUST IN MAY STATING THAT STATE UNIVERSITIES CAN COMPENSATE ATHLETES FOR THEIR NAPE, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

PREVIOUSLY THEY COULDN'T DO THAT.

SO NOW BOTH OF THE COURT'S HOLDING AND THE STATE LAW WILL ALLOW UNIVERSITIES IN ARIZONA TO DO THAT DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY FALL.

>> AND IF I READ THIS CORRECTLY, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT THE ATHLETE IS AN EMPLOYEE.

WHY IS THAT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM TAXED AND BE -- HAVE ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS, ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT OF AN EMPLOYEE, THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, JUST HIRING EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TAXES, ET CETERA, YOU HAVE TO PAY.

THE IDEA FOR -- THE REAL GAIN HERE FOR ARIZONA IS FOR OUR COLLEGES CAN NOW GO OUT AND RECRUIT STATE ATHLETES, KEEP OUR ATHLETES HERE THAT ARE GREAT BUT GO TO OTHER STATES AND ALSO RECRUIT THEM TO COME TO OUR TEAMS HERE.

IT PUTS US MORE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH THE OHIO STATES AND OTHER BIG TEAMS THAT COMPANY SPEND, YOU KNOW, NOW, UNDER THIS HOLDING THEY CAN SPEND $20.5 MILLION FROM THEIR GENERAL BUDGET, ANY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAN DO THAT, TO RECRUIT ATHLETES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THE NIL DEALS, DO THEY NEED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL?

IS THAT TRUE?

>> AND THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS IN THE COURT HOLDING.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE -- THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A CLEARING HOUSE, A COLLEGE SPORTS COMMISSION THAT WILL LOOK AT ALL OF THESE, AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE DELOITTE AND ANOTHER FIRM VERIFY THAT IT IS A FAIR MARKET VALUE THAT THIS STUDENT ATHLETE'S BEING PAID.

>> I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THAT.

BEFORE YOU GO, THIS IS INTERESTING, UPDATING THE STATEWIDE AVIATION PLAN FOR ELECTRIC PLANES?

>> YES.

AND THIS IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY ON THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.

WHAT THE BILL REQUIRES IS THAT THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL CREATE WITH -- WILL WORK WITH MUNICIPALITIES, WITH AIR CARRIERS, WITH THE FAA TO DEVELOP A PLAN SO THAT THERE'S VERTI-PORTS.

WHAT THEY ARE IS THEY'RE FOR ELECTRIC PLANES THAT TAKE OFF VERTICALLY AND LAND, KIND OF LIKE THE JETSONS, THE INCREDIBLES.

LIKE THAT.

AND THEY'LL HAVE TO BE 300 POUNDS IN WEIGHT AND ABLE TO CARRY CARGO OR PASSENGERS.

>> WOW.

HOW -- WHO CRAFTED THIS?

HOW DID THIS THING COME UP?

>> SO THIS BILL IS THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE FOR THE REASON THAT FOR -- THE REASON IS THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOW EMERGING.

THERE IS ONE COMPANY IN FLORIDA THAT'S TRYING TO WORK ON, IT BUT ARIZONA WANTS TO BE THE LEADER IN IT, AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THESE -- THEY'RE VERY SMALL STRUCTURES LIKE A HELICOPTER PAD, BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY'RE ELECTRIC, AND THEY HAVE CHARGING STATION BY THEM.

SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF WITH PASSENGERS OR CARGO AND TRANSPORT THEM AROUND THE VALLEY OR THE STATE EVEN.

>> MEET GEORGE JETSON INDEED, SAW IN.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND I GUESS ARIZONA WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE PARADE HERE, GET FIRST IN LINE.

>> THAT'S IT.

FIRST TO DEVELOP THIS TECHNOLOGY, LEADING TECHNOLOGY.

>> ALEXIS, GREAT CONVERSATION.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANKS, TED.

>> THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE IDENTIFIES AND PROTECTS HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, BUT THE OFFICE IS LOOKING AT LOSING STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH.

JOINING US NOW IS JIM MCPHERSON VOLUNTEER BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION AND ARIZONA ADVISOR, AT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

GOOD HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS, TED.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT?

>> THIS IS A STATE AGENCY, THERE'S ONE IN EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY, AS WELL AS TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICES.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS MAKE SURE THAT PROJECTS THAT MAY INFLUENCE BUILDINGS OR ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES ARE WELL PLANNED FOR IN THE FUTURE.

WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE, HIGHWAYS, BROADBAND, THEY ALL NEED A COMPONENT TO CHECK ON HOW THEY'RE AFFECTED BY THE HISTORY OR THE ARKOLOGY.

>> NOW THE OFFICE IS FACING A POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN.

AND I MENTIONED THAT MAYBE AS EARLY AS NEXT TONIGHT?

>> YES.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> OKAY.

SO WHEN CONGRESS APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO ALL OF THE STATE PRESERVATION OFFICES, THEY GO TO THE AGENCY, IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.

THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR THE STATE, SO THE STATE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THAT MONEY TO BE RELEASED, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

BREAKING NEWS, IT WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY.

>> OH.

>> SO THAT'S GOOD.

>> WHAT CHANGED?

WHY WAS IT RELEASED, WHY WASN'T IT RELEASED?

>> IT WASN'T RELEASED BECAUSE THERE WAS -- WE'RE IN NEW TIMES, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, AND THEY'RE TAKING A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THINGS.

BUT THEN STRONG LOBBYING, STRONG ADVOCACY ON THE PART OF PRESERVATION ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HELPED FOR THAT RELEASE.

>> SO YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WASN'T EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

>> CORRECT.

>> THEY SEEM TO BE EXCITED NOW.

WHAT GOT THEM EXCITED?

>> WELL, THESE PROJECTS, THIS OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN SO MANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR TOURISM OR ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES.

THERE ARE THREE BUILDINGS HERE IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REVIEWED TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW DEVELOPERS HAVE A PROJECT THAT CAN WORK ECONOMICALLY FOR THEM.

>> BUT I WOULD -- KNOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOLKS WOULD SAY, THAT'S GREAT, ARIZONA, YOU PAY FOR THEM.

WHAT ABOUT STATE FUNDING?

>> SO MANY STATES DO PROVIDE MUCH MORE FUNDING THAN ARIZONA.

THE PERCENTAGES ARE DIFFERENT STATE BY STATE.

OURS IS 87% IS DONE THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE REST IS THROUGH THE STATE.

BUT THE STATE PORTION IS REALLY NOT HARD DOLLARS.

IT'S VOLUNTEER HOURS FORSYTH STEWARDS THAT HELP PROTECT OUR ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES.

SO WE WERE ASKING FOR GAP FUNDING FOR THIS PERIOD BEFORE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THAT FUNDS COULD BE USED FROM THE STATE PARKS REVENUE FUND, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT MONEY, THAT IN CASE THE MONEY DIDN'T COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE WOULD PICK UP THAT PORTION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND WE DIDN'T NEED TO USE THAT BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE RELEASED AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

>> SO THE STATE PRESERVATION OFFICE WILL SURVIVE, TRUE?

>> TRUE.

BUT WE ALL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT -- AND THIS IS EDUCATION OF A TELEVISION, ALL FACTORS, HAVE TO NOW MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR-- >> IN MAKING YOUR CASE, THINGS LIKE BROAD BAND, THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, THINGS YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THOSE THINGS ARE FACTORS, THEY NOT?

>> THEY'RE FACTORS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A STAFF 12, YOU KNOW, $1.1 MILLION, AND THESE PROJECTS INCLUDING HIGHWAYS WOULD BE IN THE BILLIONS.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT REVIEWED PROPERLY HERE AT THE STATE -- AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB -- THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A SMALL AGENCY, THAT'S SMALLER THAN OUR STATE AGENCY WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THAT AND ALL OF THE PROJECTS IN OTHER STATES WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THIS ONE AGENCY, AND THAT WOULD HOLD THINGS UP.

>> WHAT'S NEXT IN ALL THIS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE DONE?

>> SO THE NEXT PHASE IS FOR GET WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND REALLY CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THE BENEFITS OF A STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, A STATE PLAN FOR PRESERVATION, AND WHAT IT MEANS NOT ONLY FOR THEIR DISTRICT BUT FOR THE STATE, AS WELL.

WE HAVE NEXT YEAR THE 250th ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WE HAVE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF ROOT 56.

THESE ARE EFFORTS THAT HELP BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEN THEY NEED TO BE STAFFED, AND WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT TOGETHER, AND THEN ALSO THE FACTOR THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE IN SO MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AND WE TALK ABOUT HOW TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN RURAL ARIZONA.

YOU NEED TO HAVE JOBS, YOU NEED TO HAVE EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY HELP TO BUILD COMMUNITY.

>> YOU BET.

ARIZONA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

YOU MADE A PRETTY GOOD CASE HERE.

>> TED, I'D VOTE FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, YOU GOT SOME BIG PROBLEMS THEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>>> ASU RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING AT CHOLINE AS A FACTOR IN HELPING REDUCE THE RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA, WE LOOK PROMISING RESULTS INVOLVING CHOLINE.

RAMÓN VELAZQUEZ IS A NEUROSCIENTIST AT ASU'S NEURO- DEGENERATIVE DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER.

YOU GUYS AND YOUR TITLES.

I TELL YA.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD BE HERE.

IT'S A MOUTHFUL.

>> WHAT IS COLIEN?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CHOLINE -- CHOLINE IS AN ORGANIC COMPOUND PRODUCED IN OUR BODY.

SO THAT MEANS OTHER FORMS OF ANIMALS, INCLUDING HUMANS, WE CAN PRODUCE IT, HOWEVER, IT'S BEEN NOTED BASED ON MULTIPLE YEARS OF RESEARCH THAT THE AMOUNT YOU MAKE, WHAT'S IN YOUR BODY IS NOT ENOUGH, SO YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY CONSUME IT IN YOUR DIET.

YOU NEED DIETARY CHOLINE.

>> WHAT DO WE NEED TO EAT MORE OF?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF DIET YOU'RE TYPICALLY ATTUNED TO, RIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PLANT-BASED EATERS.

SOME EAT ANIMAL PRODUCTS, SOME DON'T.

THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION YOU WILL FIND IN EGGS, ALSO IN POULTRY AS WELL AS IN FISH PRODUCTS LIKE SALMON, LEAFY GREENS AND ALSO BEANS.

>> INTERESTING.

I SAW BROCCOLI.

>> BROCCOLI AS WELL, YES.

>> AND IS THAT -- IF I START EATING BROCCOLI EVERY OTHER DAY AND SALMON ON THE OTHER DAY, THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> IT DEPENDS, RIGHT.

SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO ADVOCATE HERE IS THERE NEEDS TO BE AWARENESS.

MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT REACHING THE RELATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE TO GET ADEQUATE CHOLINE.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY NUMBERS ON THIS.

ADULT WOMEN NEED 125 MILLIGRAMS OF IT A DAY AND MEN ARE REQUIRED 550 MILL GAPS.

>> SUPPLEMENTS, THEY OKAY?

>> SUPPLEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE.

THEY'RE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR PLANT BASED EATERS AND THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO CONSUME A LOT OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS BECAUSE ANIMAL PRODUCTS DO HAVE A HIGHER AMOUNT AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

>> YOU CAN GET TOO MUCH CHOLUN NORTHEAST.

>> IN ORDER TO REACH THE AMOUNT THAT'S CONSIDERED TOXIC YOU NEED TO CONSUME 6.5 TIMES OF THE RECOMMENDED DAILY AMOUNT WHICH IS ABOUT 3.5 GRAMS, THAT'S A LOT.

YOU PRODUCE A FISHY ODOR SMELL BECAUSE OF THE METABOLITES.

BUT THOSE ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO REACH THAT AMOUNT.

>> THE SUPPLEMENTS, CAN YOU TAKE A PILL, SHOULD YOU TAKE A POWDER?

>> THE SUPPLEMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN REGARDS TO CHOLINE ARE GOING TO BE IN PILL FORM AND ALSO VERY DIFFERENT TYPES.

THERE'S CHOLINE FLUORIDE, THE MOST COMMON FORM AVAILABLE, IT GETS METABOLIZED BY YOUR LIVER AND THEN IT'S CIRCULATING THROUGH YOUR BLOOD STREAM AND DOES GET UP INTO YOUR BRAIN.

ANOTHER FORM ALPHA GPC IS A TYPE THAT IS EASIER TO GET UP INTO YOUR ACTUAL BRAIN.

WE RECOMMEND THAT AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE FORMS.

>> YOU MENTION GETS UP INTO YOUR BRAIN.

HOW DOES IT GET UP INTO YOUR BRAIN?

>> THE WAY IT DOES THAT IS BY USING OUR VASCULATURE.

CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT YOUR BLOOD, RIGHT.

SO IT'S PROCESSED BY YOUR STOMACH AND MAKES ITS WAY INTO DIGESTIVE TRACTS.

IT CAN BE ABSORBED INTO YOUR BRAIN.

IN ORDER TO DO, THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY TRANSPORTERS IN WHAT'S CALLED THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER WHICH PROTECTS FROM THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO YOUR BRAIN FROM GETTING IN AND THEN IT'S ALLOWED TO TRANSPORT INTO THE BRAIN.

>> HOW INTERESTING.

ONCE IT GETS INTO YOUR BRAIN, DOES IT AFFECT NEUROTRANSMITTERS, WHAT DOES IT EFFECT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN FINDING, RIGHT.

WHEN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1998 WE BELIEVE -- THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD BELIEVES THAT IT WAS PREDOMINATELY RELATED TO FAT METABOLISM AND RIVER.

WHAT WE'VE FOUND NOW IS REPORTING THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MEMORY, HIGHER COGNITION AND ALLOW FOR CELL MEMBRANES.

>> I'M ACTUALLY HEADING TO A WORKOUT CLASS AFTER THIS, AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THAT REGARD, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH AROUND THIS IS THAT COMBINING LIFESTYLE FACTORS THAT ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR REDUCTION IN A LOT OF METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION.

LIKE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THINGS OF THAT SORT.

THOSE ARE RISK FACTORS FOR DISORDERS LIKE ALZHEIMER'S.

YOU CAN REDUCE THOSE BY, ONE, EXERCISING, AND TWO, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY BUFFER OR REDUCE THOSE ASPECTS, THE PROBABILITY OF HAVING -- >> ARE THEY ON SEPARATE TRACKS OR KIND OF WORK TOGETHER?

I MEAN, DO WE KNOW THAT?

>> SO DO WE KNOW WHETHER THERE'S COMBINED EFFECTS?

THE LITERATURE THERE IS A LITTLE THIN.

WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOME OF THIS WITH COLLEAGUES CURRENTLY.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE PROCESSES AND EFFECT ARE SIMILAR.

IF YOU EXERCISE, YOU CAN AFFECT CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION THAT WILL PROMOTE HEALTH, AND IF YOU TAKE CHOLINE IT HAS THE ABILITY TO REGULATE GLUCOSE LEVELS WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

>> HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH CHOLINE?

>> THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THAT WE ALL GET.

THERE'S NO TEST THAT PEOPLE ROUTINELY GET.

THERE'S A BLOOD TEST BUT YOU HAVE TO REQUEST IT.

YOU HAVE TO ASK TO MEASURE THE AMOUNT.

THE WAY WE DO THAT IS DOING DIETARY QUESTIONNAIRES AND WE CAN ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF CHOLINE THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONSUMING.

MOST AMERICANS DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WHEN I GIVE SEMINARS, I ASK, WHO KNOWS WHAT CHOLINE IS, ABOUT 10% OF INDIVIDUALS RAISE THEIR HANDS.

90% ARE DEFICIENT, THAT MEANS THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSE.

>> AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ALZHEIMER'S, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LIFESPANS AND INCREASING LIFESPANS, I MEAN, THAT ALONE SUGGEST SOMETHING'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, I THINK WHAT IT SUGGEST IS THAT CHOLINE IS A COMPONENT WE NEED TO BE ATTUNED TO IN ORDER TO TRY TO DETER FROM DISORDERS LIKE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

BUT ONCE GOING BACK TO THE COMBINATION OF FACTORS, RIGHT.

IT'S NOT JUST CHOLINE, DO YOU GET ENOUGH EXERCISE?

ARE YOU COGNITIVELY ENGAGED?

WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATION BESIDE HOW TO CROSSWORD A PUZZLE THAT ACTUALLY ACTIVATES AREAS OF YOUR BRAIN THAT CAN ACTUALLY PROMOTE COGNITIVE RESILIENCE THAT CAUSE YOU AS BUFFER SO WHEN A DISEASE LIKE ALZHEIMER'S HITS, YOUR NEURONS, WHICH ARE THE CELLS IN YOUR BRAIN THAT PRODUCE OUR BEHAVIORS CONSIDERING KIND OF REMOVE THOSE SO THEY DON'T ACTUALLY OVERTAKE YOUR BEHAVIOR.

>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE, AGAIN, CHOLINE, I THINK OF CHLORINE, THE SWIMMING POOL HERE, AND MOST PEOPLE JUST HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, RAMONE VELASQUEZ, GREAT INFORMATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.