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A Free Brain Health Study With Priceless Bennies
Happy Wednesday to you! Yesterday I was sleuthing around for the latest info on brain health and dementia prevention as one does on a rando Tuesday. I’m always on the lookout for such news and thanks to algorithms a lot of info related to that quest usually finds me. I’m also prepping for a few articles on the latest brain health intel so that’s handy.
Unfortunately though, most of what finds me on social media are supplements and programs for which I can “act now” to get the best deal on a lifetime subscription. Just what we all need…more things layer on to our every increasing load of “routine” care to assure we have checked every box on the endless wellness to-do list.
Aiiiii! Trust me, I feel your pain.
THERE IS LIGHT
One trend I’ve noticed and love in the news about the latest research, is that the advice is more big picture. It’s less about playing whack-a-mole with each aspect or deficiency in brain health, and more about seeing health—including cognitive health—as an interconnected part of your whole system. The end result is a more simplified and holistic approach to brain health.
We talked about the work of author Tommy Wood in Bacon and Vodka vs Blueberries and Sardines. I’ve been reading his book, “The Stimulated Mind” which is excellent and is delivered in blessedly short chapters; however, it is also in very small print so it’s taking me a while. I do have some takeaways so far.
The main premise is that neurodegeneration is not inevitable and that the mind is really a use it or lose it thing. If we’re going to take out physical activity, cognitive stimulus and social connection as we age, our brains are going to peace out on functions related to those things. With the right inputs and support, however, the brain remains capable of learning and changing well into old age. That, my friends, is neuroplasticity and it’s what we want.
I love the way Wood looks at health and longevity as an interconnected system where good inputs benefit multiple parts of the system. There’s so much to love here, including an excellent graphic showing the positive ripple effect of owning a dog. Basically it goes like this: you get a dog and you’ve got to walk it every day. That ultimately leads to more movement which tends to improve sleep, lower stress and improve vascular health. Your increased social connection also kicks off a host of other good things that ultimately work together to support better cognitive function.
BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION
I also stumbled upon something cool on this Brain Storm podcast and that’s what I really want to share today. The guest was Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, founder of the Center for Brain Health at University of Texas in Dallas. She talked about the The Brain Health Project, an ongoing landmark study measuring and tracking brain health of 40,000 people from 65 countries.
Here’s the blurb from their site:
Science and medicine currently focus on measuring brain decline and diagnosing brain injury and disease. Measuring holistic brain performance over time and understanding the brain’s upward potential is the next frontier. Center for BrainHealth’s BrainHealth Project can help fill the gaps and change the way the world looks at the true potential of the brain.
By looking at long-term data from a diverse group of people, The BrainHealth Project aims to identify patterns, associations and predictive markers that support optimal brain health outcomes. We invite you to help us better understand and realize a future with more brain gains and less brain decline.
The project started in 2020 and so far the results support the contention that the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity does not disappear as we age. The study uses the Brain Health Index, an entirely personal measure of each person’s brain health in three domains— clarity (cognitive health/thinking skills), connectedness (social health/social purpose), and emotional balance (mental resilience). Rather than scoring each person’s tests and ranking people by percentiles, the Brain Health Index measures you against only yourself, year by year. The tests show if behaviors improve and also use scans to show if and how brain function improves.
Chapman notes that currently, even for healthy people, our peak brain years are stalled at 30 years old; and yet, with the training provided in the study people in their 70s show as much cognitive gain as people in their 20s. Her goal is to change our accepted trajectory of cognitive decline. Says Chapman: “You can do more to strengthen your brain than you can your heart, your teeth your skin or your vision.”
THE CATCH
I took the bait, got approved on the app and signed right up for the study. It turns out, you have to actually do something to get all those benefits. Participating in the study (which you can opt out of anytime) involves completing learning modules and putting in 5-15 minutes a day of micro training to integrate brain health strategies into every day life. I had a momentary PTSD Duolingo flashback when I saw the system of coins and rewards but I persevered. I’m going on good faith that no passive aggressive owls will harangue me dawn to dusk, but I’ll keep you posted on that.
Basically, I am eager to do something meaningful for my brain health that does not involve stacking on one more supplement AND is entirely free.
If you are interested in participating in The BrainHealth Project, they are aiming for 100,000 participants. You just need to complete the online screening tool through the BrainHealth® app or online on your computer to see if you qualify.
Thanks for reading and for listening and see you next time.