WHOLE LIFE WELLNESS BOOSTS BRAIN HEALTH
The TBH Toolkit classes are based on our TBH Blueprint, simple, specific steps to engagement across three pillars of wellbeing:
Body … because physical health is closely tied to brain function. Eating well, keeping fit, and practicing brain healthy habits are key for sharp thinking and brain vitality.
Mind … because intellectual stimulation—through a variety of mentally stimulating activities that challenge different cognitive skills and routine thinking is essential for optimal brain health.
Spirit … because emotional well-being, satisfying relationships, a positive outlook, and balancing stress are beneficial to brain health.
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY ARTICLES and SUPPORTING CITATIONS
BODY
Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Dementia
Am J Geriatr Pharmoacother 2008
CONCLUSION:
“Lifestyle risk factors for CVD, such as obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and certain psychosocial factors, have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.”
CONCLUSION:
“…detection and control of the traditional risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular disease may be effective in the prevention of VCI (vascular cognitive impairment), even in older people.”
Mediterranean Diet and Age-Related Cognitive Decline: A Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA Intern Med 2015 Jul
CONCLUSION:
“In an older population, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil or nuts is associated with improved cognitive function.”
Exercise, Experience And The Aging Brain
Neurobiol Aging 2002 Sept – Oct
CONCLUSION:
“Human data show that executive functions of the type associated with frontal lobe and hippocampal regions of the brain may be selectively maintained or enhanced in humans with higher levels of fitness.”
White Matter Integrity Declined Over 6-Months, but Dance Intervention Improved Integrity of the Fornix of Older Adults
Front Aging Neurosci 2017
CONCLUSION:
“In conclusion, we provided first evidence for a dance intervention resulting in increased FA. We attribute this to the fact that dance is a combined cognitive, physical and social training, known to boost intervention outcomes.”
MIND
The Impact Of Cognitive Training And Mental Stimulation On Cognitive And Everyday Functioning Of Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
Ageing Res Rev 2014
CONCLUSION:
“Compared to no intervention, cognitive training improved performance on measures of memory and subjective cognitive function.”
Memory Training (MT) In Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Generates Change In Cognitive Performance
Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2013
CONCLUSION:
“…training individuals with MCI in the MT group exhibited cognitive performance typical of individuals without cognitive impairment, suggesting cognitive plasticity.”
Cognitive Plasticity In Older Adults: Effects Of Cognitive Training And Physical Exercise
Ann NY Acad Sci 2015 Mar
CONCLUSION:
“Overall, results reviewed here support the notion that cognitive plasticity for attentional control, as induced by cognitive training or physical activity and exercise, is preserved in late adulthood. Moreover, results of studies with patients at risk of cognitive decline also suggest that cognitive training and exercise interventions are promising nonpharmaceutical tools to help improve cognition in older at-risk individuals.”
SPIRIT
Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity And GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering
Psychol Sci 2013
CONCLUSION:
“Mindfulness training improved both GRE reading-comprehension scores and working memory capacity while simultaneously reducing the occurrence of distracting thoughts during completion of the GRE and the measure of working memory.”
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, And Zen Meditation For Depression, Anxiety, Pain, And Psychological Distress
J Psychiatr Pract 2012 Jul
CONCLUSION:
“Studies indicate that MBSR and MBCT have broad-spectrum antidepressant and antianxiety effects and decrease general psychological distress.”
Effects Of An 8-Week Meditation Program On Mood And Anxiety In Patients With Memory Loss
J Altern Complement Med 2012
CONCLUSION:
“An 8-week, 12 minute a day meditation program in patients with memory loss was associated with positive changes in mood, anxiety, and other neuropsychologic parameters, and these changes correlated with changes in Cerebral Blood Flow.”