Protecting your brain against Alzheimer’s

Mayo Clinic Arizona is offering a brain and wellness program called HABIT. It is a 10-day program offered to individuals living with mild cognitive impairment.

The program builds on existing strengths and recognizes that procedural memory, otherwise known as “habit memory,” and can be utilized to promote the highest level of function and independence.

We are joined by Dr. Amit Shah, a Geriatrician at Mayo Clinic Arizona, to learn more about the program.

HABIT stands for “Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking.” This is a program used to help guide those going through the early stages of cognitive changes that go along with aging. It’s an evidence-based program emphasizing a holistic approach to improving people’s brain health.

Dr. Shah explained the program is a 50-hour course that would typically be attended over a 10-day period. It includes things such as wellness education for healthy eating, chair based yoga so it’s accessible for everyone and cognitive strengthening exercises personalized for each person.

It’s also based on group support as the class is done as a whole, and members would also need to bring someone with them for support such as a spouse or loved one. Some couples even take the course together.

Memory compensation training helps for those who worry during moments when they might forget where their keys are or they’ve forgotten names they typically would know. They will often approach the class with fear of early dementia, but Dr. Shah enjoys teaching what is normal aging and how to get around it.