AARP Hawaiʻi offers free workshop on brain health in Hilo

Participants can learn six smart things to do to help maintain a healthy brain as they age from AARP’s top brain health expert at free in-person workshops on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi island in August.

Sarah Lenz Lock, AARP’s senior vice president of policy and brain health and executive director of the Global Council on Brain Health, will be in Hawaiʻi for a series of public events and meetings with researchers and organizations working to improve brain health in Hawaiʻi.

Lock will share information on the six pillars of brain health – Be Social, Engage Your Brain, Manage Stress, Ongoing Exercise, Restorative Sleep and Eat Right – at three free, interactive workshops open to the public.

Workshops:

Hilo

• Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Arc of Hilo, 1099 Waianuenue Ave. Lunch will be served.

Maui

• Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kīhei Community Center, 303 East Līpoa St. Lunch will be served.

Oʻahu

• Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hawaiʻi Okinawan Center on Breakfast will be available.

AARP membership is not required to attend, however participants must pre-register to reserve a spot and receive a meal. Go to aarp.org/HI or the AARP Hawai`i Facebook page and look for the events tab to register for all the events that AARP is offering.

Lock will give two presentations at the annual Generations Magazine Aging in Place workshop on Aug. 12 at the Ala Moana hotel. The first is on how to maximize oneʻs brain health with age and the second on the relationship of music to brain health.

“Better brain health enables people’s minds to flourish so they can lead more rewarding lives, said Lock. “It’s never too late to make a difference. The first thing that we say is, be aware that there are things you can do to help your brain health as you age.”

The Global Council on Brain Health, an independent collaborative of scientists, doctors and policy experts convened by AARP, recently released a report that found brain health is influenced by factors such as income and financial security, housing conditions, environment, and access to nutritious food and exercise.

The report provides recommendations for policymakers, health care providers and community organizations for driving awareness of brain health, creating livable communities which foster healthy aging, promoting culturally appropriate cognitive screenings and reducing barriers to implementing healthy behaviors.

Lock continued, “I’m excited to come to Hawai’i to learn about the research and brain health education that’s happening to address disparities with Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and other groups. Hawai`i’s population is aging because residents are living longer. The programs that are being put in place now could really make a difference to increasing healthy aging and brain health.”