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Syracuse Jewish Family Service

When most people think about aerobics, they think of vigorous exercises, such as swimming or walking, designed to strengthen the heart and lungs. We all know that it's important to keep your body active, but what about your mind?

Syracuse Jewish Family Service offers a three-month program designed to keep your brain actively challenged! Mind Aerobics™, developed by the New England Cognitive Center, is a fun, evidence-based, award winning suite of programs designed to provide older adults with comprehensive mental workouts that can help maintain or improve cognitive functioning or slow cognitive decline. These programs are developed to systematically stimulate six major cognitive areas of the brain, instead of focusing on only one or two cognitive skill areas like other programs. The Mind Aerobics TM suite of programs are designed for several levels of function, including healthy adults, individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and individuals with early stage, moderate or severe dementia.

Contact Ellen Somers, Assistant Director, for more information and to set up a screening to determine which level is the right one for you: 315-446-9111, x225; or somerse@sjfs.org.

The program focuses on stimulating:

• Reaction Time/Processing Speed
• Problem Solving/Executive Function
• Visual Spatial Relations
• Attention and Concentration
• Language
• Memory

The New England Cognitive Center

The New England Cognitive Center (NECC) is a non-profit organization located in New London, CT that develops and disseminates research-based cognitive fitness programs. NECC combines the latest advances in neuropsychological research with sound educational principles to create effective interventions that enhance brain health, independence, and quality of life. The organization’s focus is on older adults who wish to maximize mental functioning, from individuals who have no cognitive impairment to individuals with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Mind Aerobics was the 2013 recipient of the American Society on Aging’s Mind Alert Award

• Mind Sharpener^TM - Normal to forgetful
• Mind Sharpener™ targets individuals who have no impairment or very mild cognitive decline. Although they may have subjective complaints of memory deficit or occasional difficulty with word-finding, there are no objective deficits. These participants live independently.
• Mind Works^TM – Mild to moderate cognitive decline
• Mind Works™ targets individuals who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia. Problems in memory (especially for recent events), concentration, word-finding, planning, handling finances, and performing complex tasks may have been noted. Others in their environment have noticed changes. These participants generally live at home or in assisted living.
• Lively Mind™ - Moderate cognitive decline
• Lively Mind™ targets individuals who may have been diagnosed with mild or earlystage dementia. Decreased memory of recent events, problems in performing sequential tasks and difficulties with mental arithmetic may be noted. They generally require some assistance with independent living.
• Active Mind™ - Moderately severe cognitive decline
• Active Mind™ targets individuals who may have been diagnosed with moderate or midstage dementia. Major gaps in memory and other cognitive functions are frequently evident. These participants require some assistance with activities of daily living and may experience confusion about time and place. They generally live at assisted living, skilled nursing facilities or at home with 24-hour supervision.

NECC programs are the only effective, evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation interventions shown by independent research to provide cognitive stabilization, with some domains showing actual improvement, across several levels of cognitive function (from no impairment through severe impairment).

For more information on participating, as an individual or an organization, contact Ellen Somers, Assistant Director (315)446-9111 ext. 225; somerse@sjfs.org