Tag: risk reduction

The Brain Health Recipe: Ingredients for Healthy Aging

Did you know? Results from the U.S. POINTER clinical trial found that key lifestyle interventions improved cognition in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. These positive results underscore the message that healthy behavior has a powerful impact on brain health.

In this webinar, we will explore how positive actions can make a difference in cognitive health, and when combined with a program that targets multiple factors like physical activity, improving nutrition, cognitive and social challenge and health monitoring, we now know it can have a synergistic effect.

Join us to:

  • Understand what the “U.S. POINTER Recipe” is and how to incorporate it into daily living
  • Learn the key “ingredients” for brain-healthy aging
  • Hear about the trial results and implications for future research
  • Walk away with a simple, doable plan to optimize brain health

SPEAKER: Claire Day has been on staff with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2001. She is the Chief Mission and Program Strategy Officer at the Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter and as such, oversees all care and support, DEI, operations and research initiatives. Ms. Day is a clinical social worker and received her degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. She has more than twenty-five years of experience as a family and professional educator in dementia care. Ms. Day is a member of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee. In 2018, she was appointed the Chapter Lead for the US Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Interventions to Reduce Risk (US POINTER) in California in partnership with U.C. Davis. US POINTER , a lifestyle intervention trial, reported out positive topline results in July 2025 .

Vision Loss and Dementia

One increasing but sometimes overlooked risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline is vision impairment. Untreated vision loss can accelerate brain aging, lower cognitive reserve, and contribute to social isolation, all of which raise the risk of dementia. This course explores the relationship between cognitive function and visual health, emphasizes the value of routine eye care, and offers methods for early detection, support, and intervention, especially for those 45 and older.

 

Learning Objectives

  • List 6 or more modifiable risk factors for dementia
  • Describe the relationship between vision impairment and increased dementia risk
  • Evaluate interventions and support strategies for individuals with co-occurring vision loss and cognitive impairment
  • Identify special considerations for high-risk populations

 

About the Speaker: Dr. Joshua Ehrlich is the Paul R. Lichter Research Professor of Ophthalmology and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and in the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He is also an Associate Director of University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity. Dr. Ehrlich’s research focuses on the impact of vision loss on systemic health, well-being, and optimal aging. A second focus of his research is on population aging and determinants of later-life health and wellbeing. He is an invited member of the Lancet Commission on Global Eye Health and advises numerous national and international organizations on issues related to sensory health, aging, and policy. He has authored more than 150 scientific articles, and his research is funded by the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Aging, and the Fogarty International Center at NIH, as well as Gates Ventures.

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