Boosting Brain Health Nationwide

September 24-26, 2008
New York, NY

Participants, representing 17 urban libraries and their community partners, gathered in New York City to hear cutting-edge research findings on brain health, to kick off the newest segment of a successful multi-year program developed by LFF and MetLife Foundation.  Previous Fit for Life libraries focused on physical health for teens and their families.  This new round of Fit for Life programs is building upon those successes to add a focus on brain health and to extend programming to patrons from infancy through senior adulthood.

September’s training was offered to those librarians and community partners who had won spaces and grants in this segment of Fit for Life through a competitive grant process.  Following the training, the librarians returned to their libraries nationwide to refine their plans to reach patrons – thousands with direct programming, and an additional several million through public awareness campaigns.  Fit for Life programs will run from January – January 2009.

The Program
Dr. Paul D. Nussbaum kicked off September’s training with a keynote speech on “Brain Health Across the Lifespan.”  A neuropsychologist, Dr. Nussbaum reviewed basics of brain anatomy and shared recent findings that suggest the value of ongoing brain stimulation.  For instance, he said, exposing the brain to “enriched environments” throughout life leads to new brain cell development and increases connections between cells, increasing “brain reserve” that might help delay Alzheimer’s and related dementias. See box: Promoting Brain Health.

Participants also learned tips from scientists, marketers, librarians, and LFF staff on optimizing their patrons’ experience of Fit for Life.  Sessions included:

1. Panel: Keys to Brain Health Across the Lifespan (associates of the Dana Alliance on Brain Initiative)
2. Beyond the Library Walls: Outreach and Partnerships (Hagar Shirman, LFF)
3. Media Skills Boot Camp (Nina Sonenberg, LFF)
4. A Special Word on Reaching Teens (Matt Catapano, MTV)

To enjoy as well as discuss more active lifestyles, participants joined a walking tour of Chelsea, courtesy of NYC Open Spaces Coalition, and tried the physically active Wii and Wii Fit gaming console with the help of intern Keane Maloney.

Interested in learning more?  Visit Fit for Life Libraries and The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. And stay tuned for program highlights in the months to come!

Participants at the September Fit for Life
training in New York City

Promoting Brain Health:
Simple steps that everyone can start today
Adapted from notes by Dr. Paul Nussbaum, neuropsychologist

Socialization

• Maintain and build social connections as you age

• Join community groups and social organizations

• Develop hobbies

• Eat at least one sit-down meal with others each day

Physical Activity

• Walk between 7,000 and 12,000 steps daily to reduce your risk of dementia

• Maintain aerobic exercise to promote cognitive functioning

• Use both sides of your body more often

Mental Stimulation: Complexity

• Learn a second language

• Problem solve

• Write something using your non-dominant hand each day

Mental Stimulation: Novelty

• Continue traveling to new places

• Take up a new musical instrument

• Try new puzzles, new board games, new challenges

Nutrition

• Eat several ounces of salmon each week for the Omega 3 oils

• Decrease intake of processed foods and red meats

• Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetable a day

• Eat with utensils

To read about more successful Get Real, Get Fit! and Fit for Life programs, visit the Library Showcase Archives by clicking here!