This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The University of Utah will present strategies for maintaining optimum brain health at a free seminar from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Officer's Club at Fort Douglas.
Open to attendees age 50 and older, Maintain Your Brain: Brain Fitness for a Lifetime, will include a keynote address by physician Kevin Duff of the Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research (CACIR) at the U.
"Genetics account for only about one-third of the risk for brain function loss," he said in a statement. "The rest can be dramatically affected by lifestyle."
The seminar is presented by The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the U., a member-based organization that offers classes, lectures, special events, and social opportunities to people over 50. It will include workshops and an overview of opportunities for older learners in the Salt Lake valley.
Osher will also offer a free preview of their fall classes from 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 25. For more information, or to RSVP as required for either event, call 801-585-5442.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, mentally stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connections between them. Research has also found strong links between social and physical activity and brain health in older adults.