Overview
Center for BrainHealth is beginning a one-year pilot with local college campuses investigating the impact of (i) brain health assessment and training tools delivered through the online BrainHealth Platform and (ii) in-person educational brain health workshops delivered to college students and faculty/staff, with the overarching goal to better understand how to promote brain-healthier campuses (i.e., reflecting generally positive function across cognitive, social, emotional, and lifestyle domains). This initial study is intended to be a one-year pilot, with findings informing feasibility and efficacy as well as future, more extended and expanded study informing translation to other colleges/universities.
Description
ONLINE Procedures
Assessments (3 times over 9 months): BrainHealth Index - An online battery of cognitive measures and questionnaires. Periodic surveys to assess new research questions (as IRB approved) and to assess participant experience
Training, habits, resources (available over 9 months): Micro-learning video modules that include Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART) and other trainings such as stress management, sleep, and lifestyle. The habit tool supports accountability and consistency of building new and personalized habits. Curated resources (articles, podcasts, videos) around the topic of brain health are also available.
Coaching Periodic access to group and one-on-one brain-health related virtual coaching sessions.
Link wearable data Participants have the option to link their wearable data with their data collected through the BrainHealth Platform
IN-PERSON Procedures
The investigators will offer in-person and/or virtual/hybrid educational sessions on a variety of high-interest topics such as stress management, sleep, resilience, and mental well-being, with an emphasis on how practicing and implementing brain healthy strategies can impact everyday life. For faculty/staff, the investigators will also offer interactive workshops on how to create a brain healthy environment and classroom, including ways to implement and provide brain-healthy strategies and resources in their everyday operations involving students (e.g., ways to enhance mental energy and focus in the classroom, brain-based approaches to promoting growth mindset and confidence, etc.).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Minimum age of 18
- Either enrolled as a student and/or employed as staff/faculty at UTD or Dallas College
- Internet and device access
- Must be able to hear and read over the computer
- Fluent English speaker
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently or previously enrolled in The BrainHealth Project (NCT04869111)
- Diagnosed neurodegenerative disease
- History of stroke, concussion, or brain injury that currently hinders participant from functioning at their prior level
- Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and not functioning independently