”Human relationships are primary in all of living. When the gusty winds blow and shake our lives, if we know that people care about us, we may bend with the wind…but we won’t break” by Fred Rogers

Social health is important all year long, not just around the holidays! Yet the holidays do bring up a lot of different emotions because of social obligations or unmet social needs.

Since its inception in 2019, the BC Brain Wellness Program (The Program) has provided a source of hope and well-being for many. We are thrilled to share the progress we have made in this annual report.

Meaningful human connection is one of the most powerful buffers against life’s challenges and uncertainties. Among the most transformative types of connections are intergenerational.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to being together with our loved ones, enjoying festive celebrations, and taking time away from our usual routines. However, these months can also bring an increase in stress for similar reasons, putting strain on our mental and physical well-being. In this article, we explore practical strategies for managing your stress this holiday season.

There is no Hallmark holiday for Care Partners….but there should be! However, November is National Family Caregivers Month.

There are many words used to describe the act of providing care to someone else….caregiver, care partner, carer….Sometimes these words are used interchangeably, and other times, people feel one word more accurately describes their role.

Regardless of National Caregivers Month or Care Partners Awareness Day, care partners should be “seen” for all they do in front of and behind the scenes.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of friend, mentor and co-Founder of the BC Brain Wellness Program, Dr. Jack Taunton. The legacy of his work, passion and creativity has left an indelible mark on our country and on all those who had the privilege to meet him. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Cheryl and all his family and friends. Thank you Jack. Forever in our hearts and never forgotten.

Thank you to all our esteemed guests who attended the BC Brain Wellness Program’s 5th Year Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 19! On this special occasion, we celebrated the impact and inspiration of the BC Brain Wellness Program as we enter into our fifth year of supporting individuals living with chronic brain conditions, their care partners and healthy agers. Together, we are the future of brain wellness.

The BC Brain Wellness Program (BCBWP) at the University of British Columbia was founded by two physicians in an attempt to extend the usual clinical care from sick care to prevention and empower individuals to take action themselves to improve their health. The physicians’ clinical experience clearly favoured the inclusion of lifestyle interventions such as exercise, healthy nutrition, creative and cognitive activities, stress reduction, mindfulness and social connection into a holistic health care approach.

Mindful breathing can serve as an important tool for mental well-being! 

Studies show that mindful breathing lowers pain scores and stress, because it allows the individual to focus on their bodily sensations, rather than being distracted by pervasive, often negative, thoughts (Sinclair, 2021). 

Over 50 million people worldwide struggle daily with neurodegenerative diseases that cause memory loss, muscle weakness, and cognitive decline. With these numbers expected to double in the next two decades, explain Schependom and D’haeseleer, the struggle is all too real, and traditional treatments often fall short, leaving broader impacts such as anxiety, depression, and diminished quality of life frequently unaddressed. But there’s a new player on the field: improv acting.

The BCBWP Participant Advisory Committee (PAC) is currently recruiting for the 2024/25 term. The PAC aims to provide a participant perspective towards a comprehensive and integrated approach to brain wellness by guiding future BCBWP program delivery, research and education. We encourage all those who are interested to apply!

One of my recent favorite books on this topic is “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. The findings of their research indicate that the frequency and the quality of our contact with other people are two major predictors of happiness. But how do we begin to examine our relationships and their role in our happiness?

It is common for individuals to bump their heads occasionally from everyday activities. One may obtain a small bruise and then proceed with their day. However, it is easy to overlook signs of a concussion when symptoms may not appear immediately, creating more damage than the initial incident due to the delay in treatment. 

Art - the expression of imagination and creativity - is universal and immensely impactful. Channeling our thoughts and emotions through art is an accessible, yet effective way to reduce stress, enhance our wellbeing, and provide us with a sense of mastery and accomplishment.

Check out the BC Brain Wellness Program Staff and PAC recommendations for a summer of interesting reads!

As summer approaches, many of us are looking forward to more time outdoors to enjoy the warm weather and sunny days. However, the summer heat also presents various risks to our brain health through prolonged exposure to intense sunlight, high temperatures, and humidity.

On our life-long journeys to leading wholesome and enriching lifestyles, the therapeutic advantages of gardening have emerged as a promising new avenue for older adults to cultivate deep connections with nature, community, and their own sense of wellbeing.

In a world more connected than ever before, loneliness remains a silent epidemic, affecting people across all demographics. As we dive into the complexities of loneliness and social isolation, it becomes important to raise awareness and empower individuals to recognize and address these feelings, fostering a community of support and understanding.

Many individuals experience sleep disruptions that contribute to daytime apprehension, disorientation and distress. Studies report that reduced outdoor exposure to natural light amongst older adults may disrupt sleep cycles. Red light therapy has been proposed as a potential prescription intervention to improve sleep quality and activities of daily living.

Concerning Alzheimer's and Dementia, studies investigating the relationship between diet and health conditions are still advancing, yielding mixed outcomes. The question of whether the impact of nutrition on the brain is independent or linked to other healthy behaviours is still an ongoing debate…