Healthy Brain Initiative Basic Concept

Lee Memorial Health System’s Lee Memory Care has the reputation as the leader of memory services for Southwest Florida and has been providing those services since 1993.  Approximately 9,000 patients have come through the doors of the memory disorder clinic called Lee Memory Care. Lee Memory Care serves as foundation for excellent care of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. However, there has been a missing link for the well-care and prevention in the area of good brain health. Lee Memory Care has created an innovative program called the Healthy Brain Initiative of Lee County (HBI) that can provide ways for residents of Southwest Florida to boost brain power and fight the onset of memory disorders. The HBI program has implemented an effective program in collaboration with Gary Small, MD and Director of the Center on Aging at UCLA. 

Today on the market are several computerized programs that provide cognitive training. Two sites at LMHS have been pilot programs have proved to be very successful. HBI has been able to create and develop these innovative programs with the assistance from a local funder.

As one of the largest segments of America’s population moves toward old age, the demands for memory classes will increase.  Recent research shows that a combination of regular exercise and cognitive stimulation may be effective in limiting the amount of cognitive decline associated with aging. The Healthy Brain Initiative at Lee Memorial Health System has been designed to integrate state of the art cognitive activity programs with physical fitness programs to provide maximum benefit to adults 40 and older, who are concerned about brain health.

Brain fitness is a relatively new area of overall healthy aging.  Even with substantiating research as the “nun study,” some scientists are unsure about the results, but see that there is more substance than first meets the eye. Accumulating evidence shows how lifelong mental engagement can reduce the probability of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms. The good news is that a recent major scientific study showed how a 10-hour regime of well-directed, face-to-face classes along with computerized cognitive exercise resulted in measurable cognitive benefits five years down the line.

Everyone is interested in brain health. As the population is educated about good health habits and growing older gracefully—anyone and everyone wants to protect their brains from disease, just as they want to have a healthy heart. The Healthy Brain Initiative of Lee Memorial Health System basically affects the entire well-being of the community!