BEDFORD – On March 6, the IU Health Rural Dementia Network along with IU Health Community Health Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service is launching a program for individuals with or at risk of mild cognitive decline.
This is the second of two pilot programs, with the first having been held in Bloomington in 2022 and showing promising results of positive impact.
The goal of the program is to help participants implement the five pillars of brain health into their daily lives with the goal of improving brain health, as well as reducing the chances of developing dementia.
Each week of the program will consist of an hour-and-a-half class on one of the five pillars, or a group activity implementing some of the pillars, followed by a personalized telephone coaching session to track progress and assist with challenges each week. Participation is confidential.
The Rural Dementia Network, IU Health Bedford Hospital, is looking for participants who are interested in making evidence-based adjustments to their lifestyle in order to improve brain health. Participants will need to commit to attending all of the program meetings. The 9-week program will be held on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. (March 6, 13, 20, and 27; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1). There will also be coaching calls each week in order to help the participants incorporate small changes that can make a big difference in cognition. The program size is limited to 8-10 participants.
In addition to program participants, 8-10 control group participants are needed. The control group members will not attend the program but would serve as a comparison group to assess if attending the program made an impact on cognition.
Both the participants and control group will receive a hearing and cognitive assessment with the IU School of Speech and Hearing to be held in Bedford on February 11, as well as follow-up assessments after the program completion. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring lasting impact to the availability of an ongoing brain health program in the area, as well as get a baseline on personal cognitive health.
The entire program is free of charge.
Please note this is a pilot program – officials hope participants come willing and excited to participate, seeing the value in how focusing on the health of your brain can truly transform your life.
The five pillars of brain health that will be covered are:
- Purpose, Learning, and Discovery: Brain resiliency can avoid the symptoms of psychological brain diseases, and aids in maintaining a sense of purpose that gives meaning to your life. This class will help participants continue to learn, discover, and complete complex tasks to aid in increasing memory capacity.
- Sleep and Rest: Did you know that one poor night’s sleep reduces your ability to wash out beta-amyloid plaques, the physiological precursors to Alzheimer’s disease? This class will teach participants the best ways to prioritize sleep and rest, how to find a balance between the two as well as develop habits for relaxation and stress reduction.
- Nutrition: This class will teach participants that the key to nutrition is balance, not avoidance, and what foods are most important in maintaining good brain health.
- Social Connection: Staying social and interacting with others in meaningful ways can provide a buffer against the harmful effects of stress on the brain. This class will teach participants how to stay social with age.
- Movement: Movement and physical activity is the single most important factor in keeping the brain healthy! This class will teach participants the best ways to stay active, and even how to do so at home without a gym.
To register contact Rural Dementia Network at 812-276-4279, or email dmatthews4@iuhealth.org. You can also get more information and register at https://www.alzresourceindiana.org/beeprogram.
The deadline for registration is February 3.
