Brain Health PRO

Members of the SKY board (Ellen Coburn, Linda Hurlburt, Kathy Pichora-Fuller, John Hurlburt) and SKY Administrator Julia McCaig have participated in three research focus groups to explore how a free, online educational program called “Brain Health PRO”, developed by a large team of Canadian researchers, could be implemented in communities across Canada. 

In parallel, staff from the Bowen Island Community Health Centre also participated in the implementation planning research. 

An introduction to this topic was discussed at the REACH FOR SKY goal setting workshop that was held on March 2. 

The third Brain Health PRO Online Partners Meeting on March 16th, brought together collaborators from 14 sites across Canada to focus on how best to implement the program in diverse community settings. Led by researchers including Walter Wittich and Sylvie Belleville, the discussion emphasized identifying real-world barriers—such as societal stereotypes around aging and varying levels of digital literacy—and developing practical, locally tailored strategies to address them. A strong theme was the importance of collaboration and adapting the program to fit each community’s context.

Building on evidence that cognitive decline and dementia risk can be reduced through modifiable lifestyle factors, and that Brain Health PRO improves dementia literacy and self-efficacy, the project is now moving into its second phase. This next stage will evaluate how effectively the program is adopted and sustained across sites, while also assessing its impact on cognition and risk reduction in different settings.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more you could watch a recording of a talk by Professor Sylvie Bellville who is the leader of the Brain Health PRO program as part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Team. The recorded webinar was made in partnership with CCNA and hosted by brainXchange: Cognitive activity and brain health: What the evidence shows and practical strategies: https://vimeo.com/1159385576