Baycrest

Straight talk W elcome to BrainMatters magazine. In this spring edition, we are pleased to provide you with timely information on healthy living and ways to optimize your cognitive well-being. Our scientists at the Rotman Research Institute have been studying memory and cognitive function for more than a quarter-century. Thanks to neuro-imaging and research on brain structure and function, they have in-depth knowledge about changes due to injury and diseases such as dementia. At the same time, they are investigating a wide variety of therapies to help our brains function their best. For example, exercise can help, but what kind and how much? Brain training can make a difference, but do the effects last? And what happens when mood disorders, diabetes, other metabolic risk factors and hereditary disease are part of the mix? We look at some of these questions in this issue. The answers are important, because every brain is different and treatments need to be tailored to the individual. In our cover story, we invite you to meet Faith and Jordan Banks, who are great advocates for Baycrest. Jordan, managing director of Facebook Canada, describes the brain as the "most complicated frontier" of medical science and notes that technology will have a profound impact on care and research. Faith is a passionate and long- standing fundraiser for improving care practices for older adults. Elsewhere in the magazine, we serve up research on brainwaves and tips on fitness and gardening for brain health. Please consider playing a role in supporting our mission to improve brain health for people at every age. Call our Donations office at 416-785-2875 or visit baycrest.org/give Wishing you a safe and healthy spring and summer! Garry Foster President and CEO, Baycrest Foundation gfoster@baycrest.org Garry Foster JOIN THE MOVEMENT Spring into action The Brain Project The mindful gardener Up close with Jordan & Faith Page 2 Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 BrainMatters offers the latest in research and care for cognitive well-being and healthy living from the Baycrest Foundation. To contact us, please address comments or ideas to the editor at: Baycrest Foundation, 3560 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M6A 2E1 • 416-785-2500 x 5527 • donations@baycrest.org • Contributors: Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf, Judy Chu, Kate Dupuis, Jonathan MacIndoe, Laura Mandell, Shari Nepom, Nira Rittenberg, Anne-Marie Tobin, Johanna Wieting. For more on how you can support the Baycrest Foundation, please contact donations@baycrest.org or visit baycrest.org/donatenow Photo by John Packman baycrestfoundation @supportbaycrest thebaycrestchannel

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