Neurotrack

As our team knows all too well, you can tell your loved ones all about managing modifiable risk factors for #dementia. You can point them to the latest research and excellent resources. And, if you have the means, you can even set them up with meal deliveries, personal trainers, guitar lessons, and longevity specialists. At the end of the day, it's still on the older adults in our lives to: make the healthy choices... keep their brains and bodies challenged... and show up for those appointments. But, there is one way you can go a little further in protecting their cognition, and it's simple. Spend time together. That's it! Just hang out. Keep them company. Visit. Pop by for tea. Catch up. Tell stories. Have a laugh. Go for a stroll. Loneliness is a major risk factor, and it's one you can manage together. (So, stop scrolling and make a date with someone you love.) #endalz #prevention #Alzheimers

News from the Alzheimer's Association® International Conference has us rethinking that modern party staple: the charcuterie board! When a four decade study of more than 100,000 individuals shows a significant link between the consumption of processed meats (like salami) and dementia, it's time to find a more brain-friendly swap. Fortunately Annie Fenn, MD, always ahead of the curve, explored the idea of a more neuroprotective charcuterie selection on her Brain Healthy Kitchen Substack nearly a year ago (link in comments). Here are some of her must-haves for a festive party tray that sticks to MIND & Mediterranean diet guidelines: Blackberries, cherries, strawberries Raw, roasted, and pickled veggies Hummus or white bean dip Sturdy, whole grain crackers (with few ingredients) Fresh nuts Olives Tinned fish packed in olive oil Cheese (sparingly)

We're about 1 month into an 8-year pilot, but it already sounds like Medicare's innovative GUIDE Model is energizing experts in the field. What makes this program so promising? ▪ It helps providers connect patients to resources they need ▪ It recognizes and supports caregivers ▪ It improves equity in dementia care and underscores the importance of SDOH ▪ It reflects the priority that Medicare is putting on dementia screening and management overall. More info in comments. #medicare #CMMI #dementia #caregivers

Pssst, Gen Xers and older Millennials, got a sec? The years between 40 and 65 are kind of a big deal for your brain. A recent review published in Trends in Neurosciences found: * There are linear and non-linear brain changes in this window that may pave the way for your cognitive health as an older adult. * You're likely to experience pivotal life changes that can impact brain aging (caring for children or aging parents, retirement). * Your brain health is affected by the way your other systems age (especially your cardiovascular system). The authors, from University College Cork, raise some important questions to those in the field, noting that more research is needed to find out if interventions being tested in older adults could prevent cognitive decline if started in middle age. And it's also a rallying cry for those of us in midlife to consider how we want to grow older. In recent years, we’ve learned so much about how important modifiable risk factors are to longevity and cognition, and our 40s, 50s, and 60s are the perfect time to build healthier habits that will serve our brains well as we age. So today, on World Brain Day, let's review some of these best practices to protect thinking and memory! 🧠 Get blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels under control. 🧠 Ditch bad habits like smoking, drinking, and eating too much processed food. 🧠 Sort out your sleep (not too little, not too much), try different approaches to manage stress (find what works best for you), and make more time to connect with friends and loved ones (staying social is crucial). 🧠 Stay physically active. 🧠 Eat more plants (especially greens, berries, beans, and nuts), and pour on the EVOO. 🧠 Keep your mind challenged with stimulating work, hobbies you love, and learning new things. 🧠 Prioritize your hearing. Wear earplugs at concerts and other noisy environments, don't blast your AirPods, and get hearing aids if you need them. 🧠 Pay attention to emotional health. Seek help for depression and anxiety. 🧠 And, if you're in the menopause transition, talk to your doctor about ways to manage symptoms, or connect with clinicians at our partner Midi Health, who can give you Neurotrack’s screening to check on brain fog and help you manage it. More info in comments. #brainhealth #healthtech #genx #millennials

Do you know about "Age-Friendly Health Systems"? It's a way of recognizing organizations that are dedicated to providing high quality care by following best practices and aligning with what's most important to older patients and their family caregivers. Nearly 4000 Age-Friendly teams across the US employ a framework called The 4Ms to guide their decision making: ➡ They consider "what matters" to each individual patient; that means always keeping outcome goals and care preferences in mind. ➡ They evaluate "medication," checking the Beers List to make sure that treatments don't cause harm by increasing impairment or impeding mobility. ➡ They assess "mentation," routinely screening for signs of #dementia (with a tool like Neurotrack's), delirium, and depression. ➡ And lastly, they prioritize "mobility," making sure the patient can get around safely to maintain function and do more of "what matters." Find out how to join the effort and get your organization recognized for the good work you're doing. A new program, from The John A. Hartford Foundation, IHI, and American Hospital Association, starts this fall with free coaching and webinars. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ddgJimTC #aging #geriatrics

Doctors don't always make the best patients. But Daniel Gibbs, MD, PhD, seems like an exception. Start your day with a smile and read this JAMA Medical News interview with the retired neurologist diagnosed with Alzheimer's (and two copies of the APOE4 gene) 8 years ago: https://lnkd.in/dXzkyyAw Gibbs may be keeping disease progression at bay by staying active, remaining socially and intellectually engaged, and making great lifestyle choices. He's also frank about the changes he's experienced and how they've impacted his life thus far. We love his insightful critique on the limitations of traditional cognitive assessments, now that he's been in both the doctor's seat - and the patient's seat - for these exams. "One of the problems with the screening tests is that after you’ve given them a couple of times to a patient, they learn the answers. And I can still tell you that the 3 things you have to remember for the MMSE [Mini-Mental State Examination] are apple, table, and penny, even though I haven’t given or taken the MMSE forever." One of the greatest advantages of digital screeners, like Neurotrack's, is that they can generate new variations of the tests each time they're used, making them cheat-proof. #alzheimers #dementia #endalz

Congratulations to our friends at Eli Lilly and Company on receiving FDA approval on their groundbreaking Alzheimer's drug. This momentous achievement marks a significant milestone in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and brings new hope to millions of patients and their families. With this new treatment, we are one step closer to transforming the landscape of Alzheimer's care and improving the quality of life for countless individuals. This is a victory for science, medicine, and, most importantly, for patients and their loved ones. https://lnkd.in/gbfMzDtU.

This is a great video from Dr. Lisa Mosconi discussing the critical changes in the brain that occur during menopause. Did you know that two-thirds of all individuals affected by Alzheimer's are women? Research indicates that these significant brain changes can begin during menopause for certain women. It's essential to prioritize annual cognitive screenings for yourself, your parents, and loved ones. Especially because there's so much that you can do to reduce your risk! Watch the insightful video here: https://lnkd.in/gaM4W_tQ

Gardening is already associated with a number of well established health benefits. Now add staving off #dementia to that list! 🥕🥦🧠 In research just published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, scientists looked to a large, Scottish longitudinal brain health study, monitoring participants since the 1920s, to measure the impact of gardening on cognition. Those who tended a garden regularly had better cognition as retirees, while those who didn't spend time in their garden showed better cognition as 11 year olds. It's also important to note that the benefit of gardening held steady even after researchers accounted for "education, occupational social class, health factors, and importantly, overall physical activity.” Gardening combines physical exertion, fine motor tasks, stress-reducing time in nature, and the cognitive challenge of planning out the effort, all of which are associated with better brain function. Plus, growing vegetables usually means eating more vegetables, which are a key part of all brain-healthy diets. Other research has shown that getting your hands into soil exposes you to mycobacterium which can boost serotonin, lifting your mood and reducing anxiety. In brief, it's a healthy hobby to dig 😉 https://hubs.la/Q02CYLbb0