Brain Health University: Advancing Brain Health Through Science

By Senior Lifestyle

Senior Lifestyle supports residents across different stages of cognitive health. Embrace Memory Care provides specialized support for residents living with dementia, while Brain Health University helps residents with no or mild cognitive decline maintain cognitive functioning and support brain health as they age.

For more than 15 years, Senior Lifestyle’s Brain Health University has helped residents explore the everyday habits and practices that can support cognitive health. Now, as research continues to expand our understanding of the aging brain, Senior Lifestyle is taking a fresh look at the program with guidance from one of the field’s leading experts.

Senior Lifestyle has renewed its partnership with Dr. Rob Winningham, Ph.D., a neuroscientist, professor, author and nationally recognized expert in memory and aging. Dr. Winningham has spent 25 years researching human memory, with much of his work focused on older adults and ways to enhance mental functioning and quality of life. He is also a professor of psychological science and gerontology at Western Oregon University and has trained thousands of professionals in cognitive rehabilitation and therapy programs.

His relationship with Brain Health University goes back to the program’s beginnings. When Senior Lifestyle first developed BHU, Dr. Winningham helped establish its scientific foundation. More than a decade later, he returned to conduct a comprehensive review of two recent semesters, examining the curriculum, training materials and instructional approach.

His conclusion was clear: The foundation is strong, and the program has an opportunity to become even more closely aligned with the latest research.

“The structure of BHU is based on science, so team leaders can be confident in what they are presenting,” Dr. Winningham said. He also pointed to the program’s emphasis on “novelty, variety, and appropriate challenge” as a strength supported by empirical evidence.

A broader view of brain health

One of the central principles behind Brain Health University is that cognitive health does not exist in isolation.

The September 2026 curriculum organizes brain health around six lifestyle factors: physical activity, nutrition, intellectual stimulation, stress management, sleep health and social interaction. Each is paired with learning experiences designed to help residents understand the connection between everyday choices and cognitive functioning.

That approach reflects the increasingly multidimensional way researchers understand brain health.

“There’s a lot of reasons this needs to be a priority,” Dr. Winningham said. “I think our goal is, I often will use the phrase, just quality of life.”

He points to research showing that efforts to support brain health can have practical implications beyond memory itself, including independence, fall risk and the quality of social interactions.

For Senior Lifestyle, that broader perspective is central to the way BHU is designed. A brain health class might involve physical movement, a discussion about nutrition, a cognitive exercise, a sleep lesson or an opportunity to connect with others. The goal is to make the science understandable and relevant while giving residents opportunities to put it into practice.

What the research says about staying cognitively engaged

Dr. Winningham identified several areas where the research has advanced since Brain Health University was first developed.

Physical activity, for example, remains one of the most well-researched ways to support brain health and cognitive ability. His recommendations for BHU include incorporating more recent research on strength training, yoga, Tai Chi and dual-task exercises, which combine cognitive and physical demands.

The revised curriculum reflects that thinking. One class combines physical movement with trivia and other cognitive exercises, asking residents to engage their brains and bodies simultaneously. The approach is based on the concept of dual tasking, which Dr. Winningham identified as particularly promising in his review of the research.

Nutrition is approached with the same level of nuance. Rather than focusing on individual “brain foods,” the program connects nutrition with broader health factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight, all of which can affect brain function and memory. Dr. Winningham specifically identified that message as scientifically accurate and important.

Sleep and stress receive similar attention. The updated curriculum emphasizes the relationship between quality sleep and memory, learning, mood and decision-making, while Dr. Winningham recommended adding more current research around sleep hygiene, sleep apnea and the effects of technology on sleep.

And cognitive stimulation remains a core component. Dr. Winningham noted that research on cognitive stimulation and its effects on executive functioning and memory has continued to grow since BHU launched. He recommended expanding the variety of cognitive exercises available to residents while providing BHU leaders with additional training and resources.

Almost never too late to care for your brain

Perhaps one of the most important messages Dr. Winningham brings to Brain Health University is also one of the most encouraging: Cognitive aging is not simply a matter of genetics or inevitability.

“There are many lifestyle factors, environmental factors, things that are in our control that have a significant impact on our memory ability and our brain health as we age,” he said.

He is careful to qualify that message. Brain health interventions cannot reverse every stage of cognitive impairment, and the potential for improvement varies. But he points to research showing particularly meaningful opportunities for people experiencing mild cognitive impairment.

“It’s almost never too late,” he said. “Even people that are beginning to experience some impairment can see significant improvements to their memory ability, cognitive ability, thus, their quality of life.”

That perspective reinforces an important distinction in Brain Health University: The program is not about promising a particular medical outcome. It is about helping residents understand their brains, learn about the factors associated with cognitive health and engage in practices that support healthy habits and continued cognitive engagement.

Keeping the program grounded in current science

Senior Lifestyle is developing an internal Brain Health University Committee to help revise and strengthen the program, with an emphasis on scientific relevance, resident engagement, instructional consistency and scalability.

Dr. Winningham will continue supporting the program through ongoing education and collaboration, including team-facing and resident-facing sessions, additional cognitive training resources and access to evidence-based cognitive training programs and worksheets.

Senior Lifestyle has also enrolled all Program Directors in a course led by Dr. Winningham to become Certified Cognitive Stimulation Trainers, further strengthening their expertise and reinforcing Senior Lifestyle’s commitment to excellence within Brain Health University.

Listen to the podcast to hear more from Jessica Daily, Director of Resident Programming, and Dr. Winningham about Brain Health University, cognitive wellness and healthy aging.

The September semester will begin with a live presentation from Dr. Winningham focused on emerging research, practical strategies for cognitive wellness and the science behind healthy aging. The semester’s 12 classes will then explore the six pillars of brain health through education, discussion and hands-on exercises.

For Senior Lifestyle, continuing to invest in Brain Health University means continuing to ask a fundamental question: What does the science tell us about helping people live well as they age?

After 15 years, the answer is still evolving. And that is precisely why the program is evolving with it.

Learn more about Embrace Memory Care and Senior Lifestyle’s Explore program.