Alzheimer's Association initiative focuses on boosting brain health

It takes more than a crossword puzzle and a bowl of blueberries to build a healthy brain.

Both are good, but chances are people don’t know why or even if what they hear about these, or other brain boosters, are true.

That is why the Alzheimer’s Association Central and North Florida Chapter will launch an innovative brain health initiative focused on providing information that separates myth from science-supported facts. Through it, people at any age can become knowledgeable and motivated to make brain health a priority throughout life.

A lot of information about the brain and brain health exists, but much of it is scattered and hard to find or wade through. This two-year project will make information about the brain and brain health readily available to the public. It is supported by a $185,000 grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation, which has supported brain-boosting initiatives in local communities for more than a decade.

The goal is to get the real science out to people so they can more clearly understand the nuances of brain health, and be inspired to make healthy changes in their own lives. The organizations Think Creative, Flight of Ideas, and Compass Research will be working closely with the Alzheimer’s Association on this endeavor.

Education will be a big part of the project. A website dedicated to brain health will highlight the latest in brain research simplifying it so the public can understand. Book reviews, interactive brain health activities, information about how to become your own brain health coach, and how to create a brain health club are some of the ideas under development for the website.

During the first year, brain health champions will be sought after and identified so their stories and the steps they have taken to live a brain healthy lifestyle can be showcased for others to follow. The aim is to find brain health champions who are of different ages, are cognitively healthy or experiencing memory loss, but who model the different domains of brain health in their everyday lives. One example is a retired physician, Norman Wall, 97, who gathers for lunch each week with a group of professionals – including physicians, journalists, clergy and businessmen – to challenge themselves mentally by debating the issues of the day.

And because learning should be a lifelong endeavor, we will identify brain health champions still in school, especially students who participate and excel in activities outside the typical school experience, such as young inventors or kids with amazing hobbies, to hopefully inspire other kids to get involved in brain healthy activities.

Further education, primarily in the Maitland, Eatonville and Winter Park areas, will be provided through presentations and webinars. Dr. Ira Goodman, director of neurosciences at the Compass Clinic, will serve as one of the brain health champions and be a principle presenter, along with Beverly Engel and Linda Hayes Gallegos. And the Alzheimer’s Association plans to work with other community organizations because sometimes getting people motivated to change behavior takes an entire community.

There is a lot more to come, but in the meantime, if you want to get a head start on building a healthy brain, go ahead and eat your blueberries, keep up your exercise and if you have done crossword puzzles your whole life, try something totally new, like studying how a steam engine works. Stretch out your brain by thinking, just like you would stretch your muscles when lifting weights.

Your brain will thank you. Call 1-800-272-3900 for more information.

Beverly Engel is the program coordinator for Alzheimer's Association Central and North Florida Chapter. Contact her at 407-951-7992, ext. 114, or [email protected]