“Thanks to the passion of our teams, TBH has not only educated residents about brain health but also sparked purpose and connection in their daily lives. Together, we are proving that brain health programming can truly be life changing.”

Jayne Sallerson, President and COO, Charter Senior Living

Brain health is a top three health concern of older adults. More than ever, community residents expect you to offer enriched cognitive fitness programs that gives them the chance to stay sharp and connected and reflects a commitment to help them age with vibrance.

It stands to reason therefore that offering meaningful brain wellness training should be a “no brainer” for senior living companies. However, the challenge of launching a new initiative across multiple locations, each with their own strengths and challenges, can be daunting. What does it take to add cognitive training to your wellness programs in a way that is inclusive of your team, engages residents, and meets your goals for success?

Charter Senior Living’s recent brain fitness initiative is a case book study for how companies can bring better cognitive health to their communities. Their recent launch across 65 communities met with outstanding results. Survey results from over 300 residents showed that:

• 94% were overall satisfied with the TBH programs
• 87% said they increased their knowledge about brain health
• 95% discovered new opportunities to socialize and engage with their peers
• 86% tried new brain-healthy activities as a result of the program
• 100% expressed interest in continuing with another TBH course

Charter’s grand slam rollout has set a new standard here at TBH, and one we are proud to share as a best practices case study as you add cognitive fitness to your offerings.

What is the secret sauce to Charter’s success? Here are some of the steps that really made their launch shine.

Take Training Seriously

Charter made a clear commitment to making sure their team was prepared to lead the TBH courses, with an upfront goal of 100% TBH trainer certification within the first month of launch. Strategic decisions setting aside time for staff training, regular TBH support calls, as well as personalized support for team members who needed additional help. These steps underscored leadership’s seriousness about trainer preparation and helped them meet their training goals with great success. Leadership then took the extra step of collaborating with TBH to create a training manual for their team, simplifying team members’ access to support and program resources post-training.

Integration is Essential

A well-planned integration of the new brain health program into STRIVE, Charter’s existing wellness initiative, eased program adoption across the communities. Amber Dahle, Charter’s VP of Memory Care and Resident Programming, worked closely with TBH to create a company-wide TBH class schedule that seamlessly wove the program into STRIVE’S trimester plan, giving trainers clear directions for class promotion, scheduling and engaging residents. This uniform TBH timeline made it easier for trainers to focus on teaching and celebrating residents’ success. In addition, leadership introduced Total Brain Health to other departments, with high touch introductions to national and community level leadership, including marketing. As Dahle shared, “(T)ying TBH into our SPARK program has also been a highlight, allowing us to involve prospects, partner with marketing, and shine a spotlight on brain health and healthy aging.”

Lead the Way

Perhaps most critical to the success of Charter’s brain fitness initiative launch was leadership’s visible investment in the success of the TBH programs across their communities. Corporate wellness leaders guided their direct service team with a winning combination of high expectations and generous support. This ensured team members understood both the high organizational value of the program and their access to resources they needed to meet those goals, including ready assistance from leadership, TBH, as well as experienced peers when needed. Leadership’s commitment showed in ways that were both overt, such as the dedication of time and resources to the new program, as well as more subtly, for example completing the trainer certificate training along with their team. As a result, team members were well prepared and enthusiastic as they engaged residents in the program, sharing feedback such as “(I)t has been a fantastic class – they can’t wait for the next one!”

Celebrate Success

Charter’s best practices model is completed by their emphasis on celebrating the success of the TBH programs to residents, trainers, families and the greater community. The highly social, interactive nature of the TBH programs provided wonderful opportunities to showcase these new, fun engagement workouts using social media, with many communities posting detailed descriptions and photographs visible to residents, families, the TBH audience, and other followers. Results of student surveys were shared with all team members and corporate leadership, resulting in even greater buy-in and enthusiasm for the new program. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, residents celebrated their own personal successes, sharing feedback such as “(T)his class has given me hope, the sense to move forward in my life.”

For more information on the Total Brain Health programs to support brain wellness with guided, group-based holistic training for older adults, contact us at info@totalbrainhealth.com. 

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 Engage everyone with these quick-thinking cognitive workouts!

December marks the senior living season of chock-filled calendars, bringing joy but perhaps a bit of frantic overload to all of us working to make the holidays happy and engaging for our residents. Some holiday traditions may not make our healthiest choice list (egg nog or holiday cookies, anyone?). However, there are many that offer us a great way to engage residents in workouts that support better cognitive performance, with intellectual stimulation, social connection, and opportunities to boost everyone’s spirits. 

Here are 3 innovative, brain boosting workouts you can easily fit into the calendar to help make this holiday season more memory-able for all – happy holidays from our TBH team to yours!

Compliments Claus

This no-prep, fast social workout is sure to boost everyone’s spirits, as well as their speedy thinking, nimbleness, and verbal skills.

• Have students break into pairs. 

• Have them take 1 minute each complimenting their partner on one thing, such as their smile, their holiday sweater, etc. 

• When time is up, have students switch to new partners and repeat the workout. 

• Continue until students have all partnered with each other or time is up. 

Winter Wonders

Nourish those neurons with this fun, creative group poetry workout – perfect to share with family and the greater community once you are done! Trains attention, speedy thinking, nimbleness, verbal skills, memory, and executive control.

• Write one of the Winter Wonders poetry prompts on a white board or flip chart.

• Have students take turns adding a line, word, or motion to the poem. 

• Keep going until your group agrees the poem is completed.

• Have fun reciting your Winter Wonders poem together!

• If time allows, use additional prompts to create more Winter Wonders poems.

Winter Wonders Poetry Prompts

The cardinal, so red against the falling snow …

A path appeared across the snowy field, leading …

The pine-scented boughs lined the …

The holiday lights glimmered across the …

Holiday Ho-Ho-Hos

Offer a bit of respite from the holiday high jinks with a break for some deep breathing and relaxation. Great for boosting perception, attention, coordination and emotional balance.

• Have students sit comfortably, with their feet on the floor and hands resting in their laps. Invite them to close their eyes.

• Invite students to take several deep breaths, slowing the rhythm of their breathing with each breath.

• After a few rounds, invite students to add to their breathing by gently verbalizing “ho-ho-ho” as they exhale. 

• Do this for a few minutes together.

• Option to continue with additional verbal prompts as they exhale, such as “he-he-he” and “ha-ha-ha.” You can alternate between the verbal prompts for each exhale round as well. 

• Continue for as long as time allows. If desired, check in on how folks feel before and after the deep breathing workout to encourage them to continue using it on their own as a way to de-stress during the holiday season.

For more information on the Total Brain Health programs to support brain wellness with guided, group-based holistic training for older adults, contact us at info@totalbrainhealth.com. 

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What Every Senior Living Professional Should Know

This past month, the highly esteemed Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care released updated guidelines, the group’s 3rd report since 2017. 

The news is hopeful. Through systematic reviews and meta-analyses from different studies, the commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors that could hold the key to preventing nearly half of dementia cases, up from 12 factors in their previous release. 

As senior care professionals, the Lancet Commission findings are an invaluable resource for sharing the clear value of our wellness programs to promote cognitive health and successful aging for our residents. Understanding and addressing the now 14 lifestyle factors identified by this new report is crucial as we plan our interventions and services to help residents and community members live healthier, and more fulfilling lives. 

A Lifelong Approach to Enrichment and Risk Reduction

One of the key takeaways from the 2024 report is that it’s never too late to take action. While addressing risk factors early in life is ideal, the report highlights that interventions at any age can still yield benefits. By providing programs and activities that focus on cognitive stimulation, social engagement, physical exercise, and other key areas, we can help reduce risk of dementia regardless of our residents’ stage of life. 

Practical Strategies to Incorporate into Life Enrichment Program

The 2024 update outlines specific actions to address the 14 dementia risk factors, many of which can be directly integrated into the activities we plan and lead in communities. They include: 

Cognitive Stimulation: Offer educational workshops, brain workouts, and mentally engaging activities to keep residents cognitively sharp.

• Hearing Health: Ensure that residents have access to hearing screenings and hearing aids.

• Social Engagement: Create opportunities for social interaction, whether through group activities, volunteer programs, or peer mentoring.

• Physical Activity: Promote regular exercise classes, walking clubs, or other physical activities.

• Mental Health Support: Offer access to mental health resources and activities that combat depression and provide opportunities for community support.

• Safety: Encourage safe practices such as using seat belts, wearing helmets, and reducing fall risks. 

• Nutrition and Wellness: Provide heart-healthy meal options and educate residents on the importance of managing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• Smoking Cessation: Educate residents about the risks of smoking and provide support for those who want to quit.

• Vision Care: Arrange regular vision screenings and ensure that residents have access to corrective lenses or other vision aids.

• Environmental Awareness: Work with your facility to reduce exposure to air pollution and create age-friendly, supportive environments that promote healthy living.

• Alcohol Moderation: Promote awareness of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and provide education on moderate drinking.

Supporting Residents Beyond Prevention

Even for residents who may already be experiencing cognitive decline, our role in providing supportive, enriching activities is vital. The Lancet Commission recommends interventions that help people live well with dementia, such as planning for the future, maintaining social connections, and providing appropriate care. By fostering an environment where all residents feel engaged and valued, we can improve their overall well-being. 

Bringing It All Together: A Proactive Approach

With this research we are better positioned to make a lasting impact on the cognitive health of our residents. The evidence-based programs and activities you provide are not just about keeping residents busy—they are about empowering them to live vitally, with better brain health and more years of active living. By being ambitious about dementia prevention and integrating these new insights into our everyday work, we help to create a brighter, healthier lifestyle for everyone in our care. The power of 14 is in our hands—let’s use it to make a lasting difference.

For more information on the Total Brain Health programs to support brain wellness with guided, group-based holistic training for older adults, contact us at info@totalbrainhealth.com. 

Reference article: The Lancet Commissions Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission 

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Can Social-Based Brain Training Help Residents with Brain Fog?

 We all know the struggle: a resident expresses frustration about forgetfulness and a lack of mental clarity. They describe it as “brain fog” – that pesky feeling of muddled thinking and difficulty focusing. As activity leaders, we can offer solutions! New research suggests that brain training programs that incorporate social interaction might be just the tool to sharpen residents’ cognitive edge.

Brain Fog: Beyond a Senior Moment

Brain fog isn’t a specific diagnosis, but a collection of symptoms like forgetfulness, confusion, and concentration issues. It can be caused by various factors like stress, sleep deprivation, or even dehydration. While these “senior moments” are common, they can be a source of frustration for residents.

The Power of Social Connections

Here’s the exciting part: studies show staying socially connected significantly improves cognitive function and even reduces the risk of dementia. Research has found that social interaction stimulates the brain in unique ways compared to solo activities. This social stimulation strengthens existing neural pathways and creates new ones, leading to sharper thinking and improved memory.

Social-Based Brain Training: More Than Puzzles

Many brain training programs exist, but some stand out for their social focus. Consider TBH (Total Brain Health) classes as an example. These classes move beyond brain teasers and memory games. They create a space for residents to learn and socialize together. This social interaction is key – it provides cognitive stimulation while combating loneliness, a major risk factor for cognitive decline.

The Benefits of Experiential Learning

TBH classes are also experiential, meaning residents actively engage in the learning process. This hands-on approach makes learning fun and engaging, and research shows it improves information retention.

Empowering Residents with Memory Strategies

TBH classes go beyond just brain stimulation. They also teach practical memory strategies to help residents manage everyday forgetfulness. From organization tips to mnemonic devices, these strategies empower residents to manage their brain health and reduce those frustrating “senior moments.”

Building a Strong Brain Training Program

When designing or selecting a brain training program for your community, consider these key points:

• Science-backed: Is the program based on research and proven to improve cognitive function?

• Social Interaction: Does it encourage interaction and connection with others?

• Educational Empowerment: Does it teach residents strategies to manage their brain health outside of class?

• Experiential Learning: Is it hands-on and engaging, or just passive learning?

By prioritizing these aspects, you can create a program that combats brain fog, fosters social connection, empowers residents, and makes learning a joy!

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Is COGNITIVE DECLINE AVOIDABLE? What Everyone Should Know About the Latest Brain Health Science

BY CYNTHIA R. GREEN, PH.D.

What if you could reduce the risk of cognitive decline for those you serve? Memory loss is a top concern of your residents and their families. And dementia care carries an associated burden increase for your communities. No doubt therefore you would be excited to take a very close look at what you could do to help clients preserve their thinking and avoid cognitive change.

Get ready to look at cognitive wellness training.

A Rush University study published last month underscores once again that lifestyle interventions are perhaps our most powerful tool in addressing cognitive decline. Using longitudinal data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, researchers studied the role healthy lifestyle played in modifying dementia. Their findings, based on 24+ years of data from 754 subjects with an average age at death of 90.9 years, confirmed the critical role behavioral choice makes in dementia risk.

A brain healthy lifestyle is linked to better cognitive performance at the end of life.

Using self-report data, the Rush team developed a lifestyle scale score based on 5 factors: Noncurrent smoking, 150+ minutes of physical activity/week, limited alcohol consumption, adherence to a brain healthy diet (MIND diet), and a high degree of cognitive activity. They then compared subjects based on their lifestyle score, cognitive test scores proximal to death, and neuropathology at autopsy. Study outcomes showed that a higher lifestyle score was significantly correlated with better global cognitive function in the subjects’ final years.

A brain healthy lifestyle preserves cognitive independence even when dementia pathology was present.

The Rush team additionally looked at the association between lifestyle score and the presence of neuropathology typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias at the time of death. They found that folks who led a brain healthy lifestyle maintained their cognitive independence into their final years, even if they had changes in their brain tissue typical of dementia. This provides strong evidence for cognitive reserve theory, which maintains that healthy engagement reduces the expression of cognitive loss during one’s lifetime, even when pathological changes are present in the brain.

A unique lesson for senior living leadership.

The Rush study confirms what we already know – leading a brain healthy lifestyle reduces cognitive decline. It also offers a finding uniquely valuable to senior living leadership, as it provides insight to the power of lifestyle interventions in promoting cognitive independence well into late life. Given the median age is 85 years in many residential settings, this evidence compels industry leadership to think carefully about the value of cognitive wellness training as much more than a program amenity. In fact, this evidence clearly demonstrates that giving residents the chance to increase their cognitive wellness engagement ups their chances of staying independent and healthy at every age, and can reduce increases in community burden associated with memory loss. 

Cognitive wellness training turns the science into action.

Brain healthy living is clearly the most impactful tool we have to reduce dementia risk, even well into our later years. And cognitive wellness training is the best way we can bring that science home. Busy packets and tech games are poor substitutes for teaching the real science behind how brain healthy living to make a difference in our lives. Senior living leaders can deliver meaningful change with brain health programs that provide actionable, sustainable ways residents can engage across physical, cognitive, and social and emotional wellness to boost thinking, reduce dementia risk, and maintain health and independence.

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Amp Up Attendance For Your Brain Health Classes | Do Chat GPT and I agree?

BY CYNTHIA R. GREEN, PH.D.

You know your active elders are keen to learn how they can keep their thinking sharp and brains healthy. Yet sometimes those brain health classes may not feel so popular, or you may worry that attendance may be waning. What can you do to amp up attendance and make sure your brain health programs thrive?

As an expert in the field, I certainly have lots of advice on this topic. But, I was curious – what would Chat GPT say you should do?

So, I asked CHAT GPT for some tips to boost attendance for a brain health program – and was pleasantly surprised to see that when it comes to the ways you can entice and engage folks in meaningful cognitive training, we share the same point-of-view.

Ready for the top 4 ways CHAT GPT and I say you can get your customers to turn out for brain health?

1. Know your customer. Find out what your residents or members really want to get out of a brain health program. Do they want to preserve quick and nimble thinking? Remember things better? Or are they primarily interested in how they can stave off cognitive decline? Then, make sure the program you offer is what they are interested in learning. A good content partner should offer you a selection of topics to choose from so you can best meet what your folks want to learn about. (Our TBH programs do).

CHAT GPT adds that you should then develop marketing materials that reflects their interest. Try flyers, posters, articles, and portal or social media posts. Just make sure that your marketing materials are responsive and show that you’ve listened to what they want and are making that happen. (These are including with our program packages).

2. Make the invitation personal. Who wants to feel like a number or cog in the wheel? Certainly not an AI program! CHAT GPT highlights the importance of personalizing invitations to your program. I couldn’t agree more. Take the time to personally invite folks to join your class. Be sure to point out the benefits of the program and how it can help them reach their own wellness goals. Next, invite them to talk up the program in their social circles and to bring friends to class. CHAT GPT suggests a referral incentive program, where folks are rewarded for bringing someone new to the classes (that could be fun!). And don’t forget the power of their own words – Invite folks to share stories about the program and why they love it at other classes or community events. Even a machine knows the power of the personal testimonial.

3. Make sure it’s worth their while. CHAT GPT’s 3^rd tip? Make sure the class content is engaging and interactive. Again, I could not agree more – in fact, that is the only way we

do things here at Total Brain Health! After all, if something isn’t engaging, meaningful, and fun, why would any of us want to attend? In addition to making sure the program is enjoyable, CHAT GPT suggests you focus on material that is practical and applicable to everyday life, with takeaways students can use to continue learning on their own. Happily, that advice is an easy fit for TBH, since all our training is designed to give folks practical, sustainable ways they can sharpen their thinking, rev up their recall, and reduce cognitive loss. And each of our classes comes with handouts and more so folks can continue learning on their own.

4. Make sure they feel welcomed. Folks will attend classes where they feel respected, included, and valued. Part of that equation is to ensure that students always find a welcoming class environment that adapts to their interests and needs, and that is empowering and connecting. As CHAT GPT concludes, “remember it is crucial to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment where older adults feel comfortable and supported. Building trust and rapport with potential attendees can further boost attendance as they recognize the value of the brain health class and the positive impact it can have on their lives.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I know that these strategies are surefire, proven ways you can make sure your brain health classes are among the most popular listings on your community calendar. Isn’t it nice to see that CHAT GPT agrees?

President and founder of Total Brain Health, Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author and nationally recognized expert on memory fitness and brain health.

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BY CYNTHIA R. GREEN, PH.D.

We all need to sleep. Yet sometimes it can seem impossible to get a good night’s rest. A lack of zzz’s takes a toll on our thinking and wellbeing, especially as we grow older. The good news? There are evidence-backed, practical ways we can improve our sleep at every age.

Why is sleep so important?

While researchers cannot pinpoint the exact way sleep works, they all agree that sleep is critical to healthy functioning. Adequate rest supports our wellbeing, allowing our bodies the opportunity to repair cellular damage, remove toxins, and maintain good physical condition. In addition, sleep supports our immune system, lowering our risk for infection and disease, and can reduces our risk for injury. Finally, scientists believe sleep may play a critical role in healthy brain function, providing a time for neural growth that support ongoing neuroplasticity.

Sleep helps us remember better.

Sleep also matters to our memory. Research shows that getting adequate rest is key to maintaining attention, thinking fast, and other cognitive skills that help us function smoothly and support learning. In addition, it is during sleep that we consolidate material learned during the day and create pathways to new memory for that information. This suggests that if we want to stay sharp and remember what we learn – from directions to names! – we need good sleep.

Sleep can make us better friends.

Lastly, sleep can make us better company. When we are sleeping well, we have better social skills. We can listen more actively and accurately, and we have better verbal functions, making conversations easier. And sleep can help us to be a better companion, shoring up our ability to judge when it’s our turn to talk versus someone else’s or what is appropriate – or not – to do.

It can be harder to get enough sleep as we age.

Many of us are unaware that our sleep patterns can naturally change with age, making it harder to get a good night’s rest. First, our circadian rhythm, the hormonal “cascade” that determines our sleep/wake cycle, can shift, so that we go to bed and awake earlier than when we were younger. We also tend to spend more time in light sleep, making us more vulnerable to disruptions from our environment. Age-related physiological changes, medications and poor personal sleep can make sleep challenging as well.

3 easy changes to help you sleep more.

While age-related changes can make it harder to get our zzz’s, the good news is there are things we can do to improve our sleep. Here are some surefire, practical tips everyone can try to boost their chances of sleeping more.

#1 Improve Your Sleep Efficiency. According to therapists specializing in insomnia, limiting our time in bed to match our actual sleep window is a powerful way we can train ourselves to sleep better. To improve your sleep efficiency, first find your sleep window by keeping track of when you fall asleep and wake up over several days. Next, use that sleep window as a guide for the time you are in bed. Stay out of bed until you are truly ready to fall asleep, then get right out of bed when you awake in the morning. Compressing your time in bed to match your sleep cycle can significantly improve your chances of falling and staying asleep through the night.

#2 See the Light. We can also improve their sleep is by exposing ourselves to natural light during the daytime. The neural pathways located in our hypothalamus that control circadian rhythm are triggered by light. Experts such as Stanford’s Dr. Andrew Huberman teach that at least 10 minutes of exposure to natural light at the beginning and then again at the end of the day can help us reset our circadian rhythm and improve our chances of getting a full night’s sleep.

#3 Act Like a Baby. Anyone who has ever put a child to bed knows that routine matters. Yet often as adults we stray from good bedtime habits. Research shows that practicing a regular bedtime routine can be a highly effective way to promote better rest. Take the time to reassess your nightly ritual and put a healthier program into practice. Include a regular bedtime, a soothing activity such as reading, soft music, breathing relaxation, or a warm bath, and keeping your bedroom cool and dark. Consider banning use of electronics, including your phone, for at least 30 minutes before bedtime, as studies have shown that these devices emit blue light that can be disruptive to sleep. Once you set your routine, be sure to stick with it!

Here’s to many beautiful dreams and happy memories!

President and founder of Total Brain Health, Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author and nationally recognized expert on memory fitness and brain health.

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3 Unexpected Benefits of your Brain Health Investment: What to Know

For many in the active aging space, August is a time of budgets and decision making. While dollars are tight, the pandemic’s impact has proven that the real value of wellness engagement to resident health, connection, and satisfaction is, in fact, priceless.

As you consider how to stretch your allocation for maximum impact, you should know that there are multiple, unexpected ways investing in brain health is a wise move for your wellness impact – and your bottom line.

There really are countless ways making cognitive fitness a priority for your wellness spend brings surprising benefits, but let’s start with my top 3:

1. Brain training benefits your wellness engagement.

Your goal is to deliver wellness options residents will use and love. Look no further than brain fitness, which is a high wellness priority for everyone living in your community. A 2017 survey found that a whopping 72% of the 3,000+ adults say losing their memory is their top worry about aging. Residents not only have identified that they want your help keeping their cognition vital – they vote with their attendance when you include cognitive fitness training on the calendar.

Including cognitive wellness also helps you promote your overall health platform. Current science confirms the strong tie between body, mind, and spirit interventions and sharp thinking, dementia prevention, and living well with memory loss. Going beyond busy packets to well-designed brain health training can raise everyone’s awareness and participation in your fitness, creative, and community offerings.

2. Brain training benefits resident’s autonomy and purpose.

Daily thinking and memory are not the only targets of cognitive wellness – so are the skills needed for independence and vitality. After the pandemic, residents have a renewed commitment to taking care of
their brain health. Providing training options that help them meet those goals benefits their confidence, sense of achievement, and autonomy to direct their own wellness decisions. Opportunities for residents to drive their brain health engagement make it much more likely they will find their time in your program meaningful, fulfilling, and purposeful. Adding options such as peer training and program leadership can boost resident autonomy and purpose even more.

3. Brain training benefits your business plan.

Investing in brain training that truly engages your residents pays off for your bottom line as well. High value, meaningful brain training is a differentiator that can set your community apart for prospective community members and their families. While brain teasers may entertain, they do not reflect the serious commitment to cutting edge brain wellness the current marketplace demands. In addition, quality cognitive training contributes to having happy, satisfied residents who feel more deeply connected to each other and to a community that goes beyond the mundane to provide cutting-edge resources that help them thrive. That is, after all, why they moved to your community in the first place — and is most likely what will get them to stay.

Research shows that lifestyle wellness is a main reason folks are drawn to communal living. Further, we know that active wellness participants enjoy a higher quality of life, are more satisfied with living in your community, and stay healthier and independent for about 2 years longer, reducing their cost of care. As a highly sought-after aspect of wellness that brings a bounty of benefits, brain fitness is just a smart investment.

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Why Cross Training Is So Good for Our Brains – And How To Do It

Cross training is a well-accepted and popular method in physical fitness. Did you know the benefits of a cross training approach apply to brain training as well?

There is no question that any effective brain wellness program must include cross training. In fact, our TBH Blueprint is uniquely based on the very principles of a cross training approach.

Why cross train our brains? Because the state of the science brain health research demonstrates that doing so helps us fully reap the benefits of cognitive fitness interventions. When we talk about being brain healthy, we are really talking about two different but equally desirable outcomes. First, we are looking to maintain everyday intellectual function, such as attention, speed of thinking, multi-tasking, and of course memory. Second, we seek ways to reduce our risk for serious memory loss and maintain cognitive vitality as we age. When we look at the science behind what keeps our minds sharp and our brains healthy, it is clear we need to engage in many different activities across wellbeing to work towards both these goals. Since cross training is best defined as “training across disciplines,” is a very apt way of describing exactly what we need to do.

What should we look to cross train in our brain fitness programs? Here are some suggestions you can use in your practice with clients, and even for yourselves!

Train Across Body, Mind and Spirit

A brain fitness program should first start with a good look at what brain healthy behaviors we can promote across wellness that support cognitive fitness.  Is more aerobic activity called for? Greater opportunities to learn how to manage stress? While we might not initially conceive of such changes as “brain training” they are critical to better brain performance and vitality. Road maps like our TBH Blueprint are a good way to understand what it takes to develop and deliver a best practices brain fitness program based on the current science.

Train Across Skills, Stretch, and Strategy

Cross training the brain also requires workouts that tap the distinctly different ways we should engage intellectually. We refer to these as the three “S”s of Brain Health: Skills, Stretch, and Strategies. First, research indicates that targeted training can help us better maintain the intellectual skills we need to function well daily that are challenged by aging and lifestyle. Second, “stretching” our brains with intellectually stimulating activities has been linked to reduced dementia risk over our lifetimes, suggesting that they may have a protective effect. Finally, we need to effectively use strategies to help us learn and retain information such as names (everyone’s top memory complaint!), conversations and more. Since most interventions do not fully address all of these areas, we must cross train across these “S”s with different workouts for best outcomes.

Train Across Cognitive Skills

Speaking of those intellectual skills, the research shows that we must train across them as well. Findings from the ACTIVE study as well as other research demonstrate again and again that we can improve our cognitive skills through training. However, the improvements seen are specific to the skill we train. Any solid cognitive training program must provide a balanced training across all those skills — from attention to memory to problem solving —  in order for it to truly meet these objectives.

What’s the bottom line? When it comes to better brain health, cross training is everything. It is a core principle of our Total Brain Health methodology, and is the best way for us to put the full weight of the science into actionable steps to promote better brain fitness for those we serve and for ourselves.

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Here’s To A Year Filled With Brain Play! 3 Ways Letting Our Brains Play Is Just What 2022 Ordered

The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said,  “we don’t stop playing because we grow old,  we grow old because we stop playing.” While  

Shaw might not have known it at the time, current research shows that when it comes to brain training, he was right.  What better time to bring more play to our programs than the fresh start of a new year?  

Here are 3 reasons why adding play to your brain training is one of the best ways you can bring state of the science cognitive wellness to your community, as well as some fun tips you can use to help everyone kick off 2022 with some play filled brain workouts. 

Reason #1: Play targets the thinking skills impacted by aging 

Aging is known to diminish specific abilities key to our daily functioning, such as sustained attention, speedy  thinking, cognitive flexibility, and short-term memory. Changes in these essential skills can make it harder to stay  physically active, pursue our passions or even stay social. However, experts have found that these skills can be  maintained and even improved with training, no matter our age. Play, especially against the clock, is a ready way  we can engage in the targeted workouts proven to support and even sharpen our thinking. And effective, play based training doesn’t require much commitment. Even short, bursts of activity for a few minutes a day can add up  to be a powerful way to fit brain boosting into everyone’s daily routine. Try taking just 5 minutes to challenge folks  to name all the car models they can, or to create a group poem together by quickly having to offer a line at their  turn. You can even “pop up” in unexpected places or times to give everyone the chance to brain play. 

Reason #2: Play offers the novelty our brains crave 

Our brains really love novelty. Research shows that when something is new to us, we release increased levels  of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which primes the pleasure centers in our brains. What better way to tap that  novelty-driven brain boost than through play? Play gives us a continual opportunity for unexpected outcomes, even when the structure of the game or workout is the same. Each round we play, no matter how familiar the  game, offers its own element of surprise. Play-based cognitive training takes advantage of the benefits of novelty  to deepen the benefits of the workout by motivating us to fully engaged, to learn, and to be empowered to  change and grow. Try cognitive workouts that have an unexpected twist, such as improv exercises like “Yes and…” or creative art exercises such as the famous surrealist art game “exquisite corpse,” where students are asked  to draw on part of a sheet folded in fourths, not seeing or knowing what others are drawing on the other folded  sections.  

Reason #3: Play makes brain training fun and sustainable 

Resolutions to improve our well-being are ever popular at the start of the year. Unfortunately, our promises to  “do better” rarely are kept. Why do so many of us fail to meet our new year’s health goals? Experts tell us that a  major roadblock to making our resolutions stick is that it’s just plain hard to keep up the momentum long enough  to really change our habits. One way we can make our brain health (or any) resolutions more sustainable is by  making that training more playful. Play is fun! It can keep training from getting too tedious and make the work a  bit lighter and less burdensome. In addition, the novelty of play increases the chances we will stay engaged and  excited to learn and change. Finally, play gives us an easy way to join with others in the pursuit of our resolutions.  That additional level of social engagement not only boosts our chances of achieving our health goals but can  benefit our thinking and other aspects of well-being. You can boost the fun and sustainability of everyone’s brain  training goals with the proven benefits of gamification, which uses game-based play elements such as points,  badges, or prizes to drive ongoing work towards a health goal. Try a 1 week brain training point-based challenge  or a community-wide team competition that encourages folks to socialize and support each other as they work  towards better brain health.  

No matter how you integrate play to your cognitive fitness program, it is certain to bring an added boost that folks will benefit from.  

Here’s to a new year filled with many play-filled moments of building better brain health for everyone! 

The post Here’s To A Year Filled With Brain Play! 3 Ways Letting Our Brains Play Is Just What 2022 Ordered appeared first on Total Brain Health Toolkits.