Staying active and engaged in your community is a central pillar to maintaining your brain health. While it is so important that we stay mentally and physically engaged all year round, the summer months are a perfect time to get out into the world to explore, learn, move your body and be with friends & family. In this episode, I will be sharing five ways to stay mentally and physically active over the summer months. Be sure to tune in!

In this episode, Dr. Andrea Wilkinson talks about brain reserve and cognitive reserve, including research evidence that supports its existence and tips on how you can enhance your own “reserve”. The idea that – over time – our brains can develop the ability to function “normally” in the face of structural and functional changes is extraordinary. This ability is called “reserve,” and its expression only really comes into play, when our brain undergoes some type of change or damage. Tune in!

In celebration of Seniors’ Month in Ontario, Dr. Andrea Wilkinson was invited to speak at the Toronto Seniors Services Event at City Hall in Toronto. This year, 2019, marks the 35th annual Seniors Month in Ontario and the theme is “Aging Strong”. If you’re interested in hearing Dr. Andrea Wilkinson speak live about BrainShape’s approach to brain health, you don’t want to miss this episode. How are you “Aging Strong”?

Did you know that stroke is a risk factor for dementia? In fact, the most common clinical outcome of vascular disease is cognitive impairment. The good news is that 90% of strokes are preventable with a healthy lifestyle, including controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol, exercising regularly, eating healthy and reducing your sodium intake. To help us learn more about the associations between cardiovascular health and brain health we’re talking with Dr. Vladimir Hachinski. Don’t miss it!

Oral hygiene is a regular part of most people’s daily lives. But, did you know that oral health is related to many health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, quality of life and even your mental functions? To help us better understand the relationship between oral hygiene and healthy aging, we’re talking with Dr. Bei Wu. Her numerous publications cover a variety of issues related to oral health and its relationship to healthy aging. Be sure to tune in to learn more!

There are approximately 8 million informal caregivers in Canada. Today we’re joined by Craig Knowles who has lived experienced as an informal caregiver for his partner & aging parents. Being an effective caregiver is fulfilling, but many caregivers experience symptoms of caregiver distress, including anxiety, depression, burnout & difficulty sleeping. In this episode, Craig shares his knowledge & provides tips & advice on being an effective caregiver.

Sleep is a basic human need. In this episode, we will be talking about sleep systems, age-related changes in sleep patterns, myths about sleep, various sleep disorders (including sleep apnea and insomnia) and cognitive-behavioural therapy as a common treatment for insomnia. Our guest is a PhD student in clinical psychology. She shares a lot of amazing insights about sleep and the aging brain, as well as tangible tips you can use to ensure you are getting the sleep that your body and your brain needs.

There are many benefits associated with volunteering, including increased longevity, better self-reported health status, less depression, and more life satisfaction. There's even evidence that shows that volunteering can impact your cognition (mental abilities). In this episode of the BrainShape Podcast, we're talking with Dr. Nicole Anderson about the benefits of volunteering in older adults, the optimal amount of time required to elicit the benefits and who benefits the most from volunteering their time.

Interested in learning about Taoist Tai Chi Arts? There are many physical and mental benefits associated with this practice. In this episode, we’ll be talking about Taoist Tai Chi Arts as a community, and its physical, mental and social benefits. We are joined by Bonnie Steinman, a member and volunteer instructor at the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism. This episode will surely give you tremendous insights into the profound impact that Taoist Tai Chi Arts can have on your mind, body, and soul.

Today on the podcast, we’re sharing the audio from a talk that Dr. Andrea Wilkinson gave at the University of Toronto, called “Exploring and Developing Tools for Staying Engaged as we Age.” This will be informative for anyone who is not very familiar with the BrainShape platform and – for anyone that is familiar with Dr. Andrea’s story – this audio will serve as a good refresher on why she’s built BrainShape and how this platform will help you build your own successful brain health journey.