Brain Health Across the Life Span
Students participated in educational brain challenges,
Research continues to demonstrate the importance of
learned fun facts about the brain, explored brain health
taking care of the brain throughout life, and Illinois
contributors, and were encouraged to complete a brain
Extension remains focused on providing brain health
challenge every day. As we envision a future with
education to audiences of all ages. Trauma-informed
reduced normal, age-related cognitive decline, educating
care and adverse childhood experiences (ACES) are hot
and encouraging youth to take care of their brains and
topics amongst educators and healthcare professionals,
adopt brain health lifestyle factors at an early age will
not only in Illinois but across the nation. Exposure to
help them have strong brains, both now and in the future.
ACES impacts child brain development, and many agencies and school systems are moving toward trauma
Traditional brain health programming remained a
-informed approaches to care and service. In response
vibrant part of Family Life programming efforts in 2018.
to this emerging issue, Illinois Extension engaged in a
Adopting a brain healthy lifestyle has been
lifespan approach to brain health.
demonstrated to reduce cognitive decline due to the normal aging process, providing benefits including
To impact brain growth and development at the earliest
continued independence, reduction of chronic diseases,
of ages, brain health programming geared towards
and improved overall quality of life. This past year, over
parents of young children, caregivers, and child care
60 brain health-related programs were delivered,
providers was provided throughout 2018. Participants
reaching over 921 people. Due to the popularity of brain
engaged in training modules from Better Brains for
health programming, two monthly Wits Fitness brain
Babies curriculum, providing training and insight on
health exercise program sites were added in 2018,
brain development, well-being, attachment, and stress.
bringing the total to five sites. Two additional Wits
Armed with skills and information to positively impact
Fitness programming sites will be starting in 2019.
child and brain development, parents and caregivers alike report that the program provided them with the confidence necessary to best care for children and equipped them to address the impact of stress on the
2018 Brain Health Sites
Thomson Public Library Mt. Carroll Public Library Sterling Public Library
developing brain.
Whiteside Center Senior Center Engaging youth in adopting a healthy brain lifestyle is
Rock River Center
also an emerging trend. Youth participants engaged in brain health programming through Health Jam programs in early 2018.
http://go.illinois.edu/CLWFamilyLife
2018 ILLINOIS EXTENSION IMPACT REPORT 11