Boost Your Brain & Memory is back by popular demand, said John Fuller, University of Missouri field specialist in human development.
The University of Missouri Extension in Butler County is offering a Boost Your Brain & Memory: Brain Fitness Class, Fuller said. The classes begin May 25, from noon– 1 p.m., and will continue on Tuesdays and Fridays for the next four weeks.
“Just as you can control and improve your general physical health with good habits, so too can you improve the health of your brain — boosting your memory and mental agility, as well as reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias,” Fuller said.
Although research is finding links between genes and one’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the exact cause is more likely a combination of genetics and other factors.
“Practicing good brain health at any age can help stave off the disease, as well as build up your cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is a term describing the brain’s resilience toward damage,” he said.
The good news, Fuller explains “is our brains are able to continue forming new neural connections throughout our life cycle. (This is called neuroplasticity.) In other words, no matter what your age, your brain health can improve as the internal structure of its neuron’s changes and as the number of synapses between neurons increases. Both of these phenomena can trigger change in our behavior, environment, and learning.”
You can boost your brain health by focusing on healthy habits in six areas: intellectual activity, nutrition, physical activity, social engagement, spiritual activity and stress management.
According to Fuller, the class uses a whole-person approach that helps you form new habits to live a healthier lifestyle, remember things better, be more organized, pay closer attention and regulate your emotions. Each participant will receive a workbook including memory exercises, tips on nutrition and exercise and summaries of evidence-based research on brain health.
“Our aim is to help participants implement new habits to maintain cognitive health while also practicing new skills for better memory,” he said.
The workshop will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays for four consecutive weeks. Each session will be one hour. The classes will be held at the University of Missouri Butler County Extension Center located at 614 Lindsay Ave, Suite 3 in Poplar Bluff. To register, call the University of Missouri Extension Office at 573-686-8064 or register online at https://extension.missouri.edu/events/boost-your-brain-and-memory- 1619544320.
A $40 registration fee is required at registration. You must register prior to the class. Seating is limited to 12 participants.