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On World AIDS Day, New Mexico activists say more money is needed for prevention; ND farmers still navigate corporate land-ownership policy maze; Unpaid caregivers in ME receive limited financial grants.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians amid Gaza truce talks, New York Rep. George Santos defends himself as his expected expulsion looms and CDC director warns about respiratory illness as flu season begins.

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Congress has iced the Farm Bill, but farmer advocates argue some portions are urgent, the Hoosier State is reaping big rewards from wind and solar, and opponents react to a road through Alaska's Brooks Range, long a dream destination for hunters and anglers.

MD Launches Brain Health Program for Older Adults

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Monday, May 2, 2022   

Maryland has launched a brain-health program in senior centers aimed at helping older adults experiencing memory loss.

Called StrongerMemory, the program was created by Rob Liebreich - president of Goodwin House, a senior health services organization in the National Capital Region.

The curriculum includes doing simple math rapidly, writing by hand, and reading aloud 20 to 30 minutes per day, five days a week. Research shows these activities can activate the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which supports cognitive function.

Liebrich said it's important to make programs like these more accessible.

"With aging, does come the prevalence of brain challenges," said Liebrich. "Having a resource like StrongerMemory - people don't have to worry about how much it's going to cost them - that they can use and take more control is really exciting. Although there is no cure for dementia, now there's an element of hope as it relates to brain health."

Goodwin House is collaborating with George Mason University to research the results of the program.

The Maryland Department of Aging is coordinating the statewide partnership, which has initially launched in Baltimore, Charles, Calvert, Cecil, Wicomico, St. Mary's and Worcester counties.

Carol Zimmerman - Aging and Dementia Programs manager at MAC Inc., the area agency on aging for the Eastern Shore of Maryland's lower counties - said they've incorporated StrongerMemory into three senior centers.

She said as the number of Marylanders facing memory loss is expected to grow, programs like these will be key.

"This particular program seems to be a wonderful intervention as people are beginning to experience some of those normal aging symptoms," said Zimmerman, "to help sharpen and to challenge those parts of the brain that they may not be challenging."

Zimmerman said MAC is also piloting StrongerMemory at home with people who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's.




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