Baycrest

E very day, education and research into brain health brings science closer to preventing dementia; and a Baycrest subsidiary, Cogniciti, is helping to lead the way. Launched in 2014, the Baycrest-developed online memory assessment has been used by more than 65,000 people to answer the question: "Is my memory normal, or should I see my doctor?" It is designed to differentiate memory changes that fall within the normal progression of aging from those that demonstrate early signs of cognitive decline due to dementia. Cogniciti's goals include assisting those with normal memory loss find peace-of- mind and delivering effective, science- validated coping tools; and helping adults with significant memory decline to get early assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Another objective is to identify older adults interested in participating in memory research and connecting them with eligible studies. As dementia research advances, it is becoming clear that preventive treatments will be the optimal way to address the disorder. Cogniciti is also engaging older adults by offering free brain health workshops at seniors' and community centres around the world. The workshops teach about changes in the aging brain and how those changes translate to thinking and memory. The workshops also allow eligible attendees to take the online memory assessment and receive a personalized result. With this comprehensive model, Cogniciti provides access for individuals to the benefits of memory research and provides hard-to-find, qualified candidates for memory studies. To date, the Baycrest-led Cogniciti team has conducted more than 900 workshops, engaging nearly 15,000 older adults across Canada, the U.S. and the UK. "Everyone who gets involved in our memory studies through our workshops, or registers online through the Cogniciti.com website, plays an important role in finding a way to prevent dementia," says Brian Mackie, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Baycrest; and Cogniciti's Chief Operations Officer. "Participation in these memory studies adds invaluable information about how best to treat and fight dementia for the good of all." In 2019, Cogniciti plans to further expand its reach, delivering several thousand more workshops to advance knowledge of brain health and to advance the fight against dementia. It is also set to attract more researchers interested in engaging with the volunteers who have put their names forward for the Cogniciti research registry. Visit cogniciti.com for more information. Leading the way on data-gathering for brain health 10 Brian Mackie, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Baycrest, and Chief Operations Officer, Cogniciti

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