The Brainwell Institute

Our work with the Alzheimer Indonesia Toronto Chapter was featured on OMNI Television Salam Indonesia! Listen in to hear more about how the Canadian Indonesian community is raising awareness and fighting stigma against #dementia https://lnkd.in/dkx6wVzZ Alexandra Whate Dr. Saskia Sivananthan Katie Kondorosi Oktariadie Ramadhian Munajat

This weekend, The The Brainwell Institute was out and about, supporting #awareness of #brainhealth and #dementia and co-designing with #communities who's #voices aren't always heard and who aren't often reached. Our Sarah Main did an amazing job with the always wonderful Alzheimer Indonesia Toronto Chapter, supporting outreach with the Indonesian Muslim community at @istiqlal islamic centre. Thank you for hosting us and for the active engagement! A key part of The Brainwell Institute's mandate is to work with diverse communities, empowering you with the information to bring dementia out of the silence and into inspiration and hope. Stay tuned for more. Oktariadie Ramadhian Munajat DY Suharya Alexandra Whate Katie Kondorosi Dr. Rose Joudi Larry W. Chambers @putry ramadhian Dr. Saskia Sivananthan #timetoactondementia #timetoactonalzheimer

The signs of #dementia aren't always as clear cut as #memory loss and #language changes. Its the reason why many people can go years without a diagnosis and only retroactively look back and realize the signs were there all along - like shutting friends out or falling for financial scams. This The New York Times article by Dana G Smith does a great job of highlighting a few others, which taken together may be indicate something is off: Financial problems Sleep issues Personality changes Driving difficulties Loss of smell https://lnkd.in/erfsa8hh

The signs of #dementia aren't always as clear cut as #memory loss and #language changes. Its the reason why many people can go years without a diagnosis and only retroactively look back and realize the signs were there all along - like shutting friends out or falling for financial scams. This The New York Times article by Dana G Smith does a great job of highlighting a few others, which taken together may be indicate something is off: Financial problems Sleep issues Personality changes Driving difficulties Loss of smell https://lnkd.in/erfsa8hh

A series of very useful and practical approaches from Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) to support a person living with #dementia. We especially love this article by Allen Power with foundational ways to adjust a room and environment.

The stigma surrounding #dementia can be paralyzing. But the struggles to find treatments contribute to the sense of hopelessness. Its infuriating when companies that should know better put patients and the public at risk to gain profit. There's nothing wrong with the profit motive as a way to spur new treatment options, but regulation and the appropriate process have to be airtight. Its the reason why The Brainwell Institute will not accept any corporate or government grants or donations. We want to ensure our research and advocacy efforts stay truly independent. https://lnkd.in/g6wDQRJ8

The recent announcement from the Senate with practical immediate recommendations to increase the number of family doctors in Canada also reflects on Canadian #immigration policies. Importantly, family doctors are the access point for anyone to be diagnosed with #dementia or access supports. Their training to recognize and support an aging population will be crucial. Two particular recommendations were made: 1) For the federal government to boost funding for residency training spots for international medical graduates — including Canadians who finish school abroad and foreign-trained doctors 2) Expand the practice-ready assessment program for supervised workplace evaluation for experienced international doctors to bypass the residency requirement. #familydoctors #primarycare More details below: https://lnkd.in/d6vYNfFg

A randomized trial (albeit small), showed that people with mild cognitive impairment or early stage #Alzheimer are able to have significant cognitive improvement with #lifestyle changes over 5 months. - What’s more, Sivananthan notes, “the more likely people were to stick to all of the changes fully, the higher gains they had. The changes in cognition were really significant.” Brain health, lifestyle and habits matter at all stages! https://lnkd.in/grf3rRTT

We’re excited to announce that Brainwell Consulting now has its own dedicated page! By partnering with our skilled team of consultants, you’re not only accessing top-tier expertise but also supporting the impactful work of the Brainwell Institute Our team’s expertise goes well beyond dementia—spanning health and social services, education, DEIB, strategic planning, and more. Curious about how we can help your organization thrive? Visit our page and discover how we can assist in achieving your goals!

Dying from Alzheimer's or other forms of #dementia often isn't something we talk about. Most people aren't even aware that it is possible to die due to Alzheimer's disease even though it is a terminal illness. As the author Jasja De Smedt Kotterman puts it "What I couldn’t find is how someone dies from Alzheimer’s. What do those complications look like in an Alzheimer’s patient? What does it mean for the patient and their family? I never found an answer until I watched it for myself." Take a moment to read this article, which deals with some of the signs that should be observed by caregivers and families and possible options to provide the best possible quality of life during that end stage. https://archive.ph/Y4NLB