PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program
2024-08-05
(Press-News.org) LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 2, 2024) – The University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging has introduced a groundbreaking initiative, Brain Health Activities, aimed at supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The program was developed with extensive collaboration across the UK campus, offering a variety of resources designed to enhance brain health and quality of life for those affected by dementia and their caregivers. 

The idea for the Brain Health Activities program came from a recognized need for more accessible activities for people with dementia, especially in rural communities.

“The goal of the program is to create a resource that can spread beyond Lexington to areas where such offerings are limited,” said April Stauffer, program coordinator for Sanders-Brown. “We aim to extend this throughout Kentucky, the United States, and even globally.” 

The impetus for this initiative can be traced back to a personal experience by neurologist Greg Jicha, M.D., Ph.D., more than two decades ago.

“We were working with the family of a patient who were struggling with what to do with their loved one who was in the early stages of dementia,” said Jicha. “They didn't want to do anything. They just wanted to sit in front of the TV and watch reruns of ‛Gunsmoke.’ I talked with them about day programs and seeing what was available in their rural community. They basically got back in touch with me and said there was not anything in their area. What do we do? And then it really dawned on me that our population is one that we have a lot of rural areas and we have a lot of underserved areas.” 

This realization was the catalyst for the creation of telemedicine clinics and educational programs in 2005. However, even with those programs, Jicha knew a need still existed as far as meeting direct needs of patients and their families so they developed an idea of video programming that could be accessed anywhere.

“A few months after we put together the grant and got the philanthropic support, COVID hit,” he said. “All the day cares and programs statewide, nationwide, closed down and shut their doors. That really drove the importance of this, not just for folks living in rural areas, but really changed our thinking to think about, well, you know, a lot of those day programs are costly, and some folks can’t afford them, and other hurdles can exist with actually accessing the programs.”

The web-based program is designed to be a valuable resource for both caregivers and those diagnosed with dementia.

“This project not only provides support but also ties back to research showing the importance of keeping the brain active,” said Sanders-Brown social worker Sarah Hatch. “We offer various activities and caregiver tips that help maintain engagement and improve quality of life.” 

“Activities for a person with dementia often need to be adapted,” Stauffer said. “They can still do many things they’ve always done, but perhaps with safer methods or simpler steps.” 

The Brain Health Activities program offerings are deeply rooted in scientific research. The program features 24 episodes that showcase activities ranging from cooking and exercise to arts and crafts. These episodes include modifications to help caregivers adapt activities for their loved ones.

“We've tried to provide modifications in our episode guides so caregivers can easily find ways to adjust activities to suit their loved one’s abilities,” said Hatch. 

The wide range of expertise throughout various UK colleges and departments allowed the team at Sanders-Brown to put together a very robust program. Experts from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Food Connection Program, Cooperative Extension, UK HealthCare Integrative Medicine, and more contributed to the programming. This ensures a well-rounded approach to brain health.

“We've used experts from different fields to cover nutrition, gardening, hand massage, Tai Chi and more. These collaborations underline how diverse aspects of health can impact brain health positively,” said Stauffer. 

While the website just recently launched, initial feedback has been positive. “We've seen interest and intrigue from early-stage support groups,” said Hatch. “People appreciate that there's something specifically designed for them.” 

The need for virtual access, which became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, made it a good time to make this nacent idea a reality.

“COVID-19 made people more familiar with technology, and this project can now reach more communities than before,” said Hatch. 

Jicha further emphasized the importance of proactive engagement for dementia patients.

“We should be providing patients who are worried about their own memory and thinking and brain health and their caregivers ways to engage that are powerful in helping to stabilize disease and preserve function,” he said. 

The Brain Health Activities program offers two tracks: Brain Boost for those with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia, and Brain Health 101 for those with moderate dementia. This ensures that the resources cater to different stages of the disease. 

“We’ve tried to make our resources as accessible as possible, with full episodes, short activity segments, and standalone caregiver tips,” said Hatch. 

The Sanders-Brown team is thankful that the high-quality programming was made possible through funding from an anonymous charitable trust. The work represents a significant step forward in supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers. By leveraging the extensive expertise within the UK community and focusing on research-backed activities, the hope is to improve brain health and quality of life for many. The initiative underscores the importance of continued engagement and provides practical tools to help caregivers and their loved ones navigate the challenges of dementia. 

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program 2 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Nature's design marvel: How shark skin's denticles adapt to wide speed

Natures design marvel: How shark skins denticles adapt to wide speed
2024-08-05
New findings on how sharks achieve drag reduction could inspire the design of riblets for more efficient aircraft and boats. In their investigation of great white shark denticles, researchers from Tokyo Tech found that ridge height and spacing play crucial roles in drag reduction at different swimming speeds. Higher middle ridges aid sharks in efficient cruising at slower speeds, while the lower side ridges become more critical for drag reduction during high-speed hunting bursts. The analysis also suggests that the speeds of an extinct giant ...

Ultrafine particles linked to over 1,000 deaths per year in Canada’s two largest cities

2024-08-05
A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada’s two largest cities by McGill-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.5. “Ultrafine particles are incredibly small, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Increasing evidence suggests these pollutants may contribute to heart and lung diseases, as well as certain forms of cancer,” ...

Physicists develop new method to combine conventional internet with the quantum internet

Physicists develop new method to combine conventional internet with the quantum internet
2024-08-05
Four researchers from the Institute of Photonics at Leibniz University Hannover have developed a new transmitter-receiver concept for transmitting entangled photons over an optical fiber. This breakthrough could enable the next generation of telecommunications technology, the quantum Internet, to be routed via optical fibers. The quantum Internet promises eavesdropping-proof encryption methods that even future quantum computers cannot decrypt, ensuring the security of critical infrastructure. "To make the quantum Internet a reality, we need to transmit entangled photons via fiber optic networks,” says Prof. Dr. Michael Kues, Head of the Institute ...

Don't drink raw milk. But what about raw milk cheese? (video)

Dont drink raw milk. But what about raw milk cheese? (video)
2024-08-05
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2024 — A lot of people on the internet have been telling our host Alex to drink raw milk. This is a bad idea — a particularly bad one actually. So she wanted to make a video about why it’s such a bad idea to consume raw milk, then she realized she’s been eating raw milk without even knowing it via cheese. That’s when things got complicated. Reactions is a video series produced by the American Chemical Society and PBS Digital Studios. Subscribe to Reactions and follow us on X, formerly Twitter @ACSReactions. The American Chemical Society ...

Does transparency help or hurt businesses dominated by one-time transactions

Does transparency help or hurt businesses dominated by one-time transactions
2024-08-05
DALLAS (SMU) – It’s a relevant question for business owners with few repeat customers, such as contract workers or real estate agents: Does being transparent about past business transactions change the odds of making a sale that benefits both buyer and seller?    The answer matters because mutually beneficial sales ensure that these kinds of transactions will continue, keeping the economy strong. A new study published in the journal American Economic Review suggests the answer depends on a variety of factors.  A mutually beneficial sale is defined from two points of view: The seller values the money they receive more than ...

Insufficient evidence to recommend low-dose CT screening in never smokers lung cancer screening: new insights and ongoing debates

2024-08-05
(Denver, Colo.—August 5, 2024) – Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Detecting this disease in its early stages significantly improves survival rates, making low-dose CT screening an essential component in the fight against lung cancer. Recent studies, particularly from Asia, have sparked a debate on whether these screening benefits extend to non-smokers and those with minimal smoking histories. However, according to an article published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, there is currently insufficient evidence to support ...

Early childhood screen use contexts and cognitive and psychosocial outcomes

2024-08-05
About The Study: The findings of this study show small to moderate effect sizes that highlight the need to consider screen use contexts (i.e., type, content, co-use, and purpose of use) when making recommendations for families, clinicians, and educators beyond screen time limits; including encouraging intentional and productive screen use, age-appropriate content, and co-use with caregivers. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Sumudu Mallawaarachchi, PhD, email sumudu@uow.edu.au. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2620) Editor’s ...

COVID-19 pandemic school disruptions and acute mental health in children and adolescents

2024-08-05
About The Study: In this cross-sectional study of 13,000 pediatric emergency department visits at nine university hospitals in Italy, school opening following a COVID-19 pandemic–related school disruption was associated with an increase in acute psychiatric emergencies. The findings of this study suggest that school may be a major source of stress for youths; factors mediating school-associated mental health disturbances in youth should be investigated.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Benedetto Vitiello, ...

Estimated exposure to 6 potentially hepatotoxic botanicals in U.S. adults

2024-08-05
About The Study: In this survey study, an estimated 15.6 million U.S. adults consumed at least one botanical product with liver liability within the past 30 days, comparable with the number of people who consumed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a commonly prescribed hypolipidemic drug. Turmeric was most frequently reported, followed in order by green tea, ashwagandha, Garcinia cambogia, red yeast rice, and black cohosh products.  Given a lack of regulatory oversight on the manufacturing and testing of botanical products, clinicians should be aware of possible adverse events from consumption of ...

Expanding student-journalists' access to EurekAlert!

2024-08-05
In an effort to give aspiring journalists hands-on practice in the science news ecosystem and help prepare them for a successful professional career, EurekAlert! is expanding journalist-memberships to applicants working at student news publications, such as campus newspapers and radio stations.  EurekAlert! has historically granted journalist-memberships to full-time journalism students, interns, and fellowship recipients who work at accredited media outlets under the guidance of experienced members. All approved journalist-members receive the same access to embargoed materials.  "As the advisor to MIT's ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Reality check: making indoor smartphone-based augmented reality work

Overthinking what you said? It’s your ‘lizard brain’ talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain

Black men — including transit workers — are targets for aggression on public transportation, study shows

Troubling spike in severe pregnancy-related complications for all ages in Illinois

Alcohol use identified by UTHealth Houston researchers as most common predictor of escalated cannabis vaping among youths in Texas

Need a landing pad for helicopter parenting? Frame tasks as learning

New MUSC Hollings Cancer Center research shows how Golgi stress affects T-cells' tumor-fighting ability

#16to365: New resources for year-round activism to end gender-based violence and strengthen bodily autonomy for all

Earliest fish-trapping facility in Central America discovered in Maya lowlands

São Paulo to host School on Disordered Systems

New insights into sleep uncover key mechanisms related to cognitive function

USC announces strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs to accelerate drug discovery

Detroit health professionals urge the community to act and address the dangers of antimicrobial resistance

3D-printing advance mitigates three defects simultaneously for failure-free metal parts 

Ancient hot water on Mars points to habitable past: Curtin study

In Patagonia, more snow could protect glaciers from melt — but only if we curb greenhouse gas emissions soon

Simplicity is key to understanding and achieving goals

Caste differentiation in ants

Nutrition that aligns with guidelines during pregnancy may be associated with better infant growth outcomes, NIH study finds

New technology points to unexpected uses for snoRNA

Racial and ethnic variation in survival in early-onset colorectal cancer

Disparities by race and urbanicity in online health care facility reviews

Exploring factors affecting workers' acquisition of exercise habits using machine learning approaches

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor for ultra-low hydrogen detection

Maintaining bridge safer; Digital sensing-based monitoring system

A novel approach for the composition design of high-entropy fluorite oxides with low thermal conductivity

A groundbreaking new approach to treating chronic abdominal pain

ECOG-ACRIN appoints seven researchers to scientific committee leadership positions

New model of neuronal circuit provides insight on eye movement

Cooking up a breakthrough: Penn engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies

[Press-News.org] Sanders-Brown Center on Aging launches innovative Brain Health Activities program