10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain
Positive, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health, even lowering the risk of cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer's and dementia. Incorporate some or all of these habits into your life to help maintain a healthy brain.
Challenge your mind
Be curious! Put your brain to work and do something that is new for you. Learn a new skill. Try something artistic. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.
Stay in school
Education reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Encourage youth to stay in school and pursue the highest level of training possible. Continue your own education by taking a class at a local library or college, or online.
Get moving
Engage in regular exercise. This includes activities that raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain and body. Find ways to build more movement into your day — walking, dancing, gardening — whatever works for you!
Protect your head
Help prevent an injury to your head. Wear a helmet for activities like biking, and wear a seatbelt. Protect yourself while playing sports. Do what you can to prevent falls, especially for older adults.
Be smoke-free
Quitting smoking can lower the risk of cognitive decline back to levels similar to those who have not smoked. It's never too late to stop.
Control your blood pressure
Medications can help lower high blood pressure. And healthy habits like eating right and physical activity can help, too. Work with a health care provider to control your blood pressure.
Manage diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or controlled by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and taking medication, if necessary.
Eat right
Eating healthier foods can help reduce your risk of cognitive decline. This includes more vegetables and leaner meats/proteins, along with foods that are less processed and lower in fat. Choose healthier meals and snacks that you enjoy and are available to you.
Maintain a healthy weight
Talk to your health care provider about the weight that is healthy for you. Other healthy habits on this list — eating right, exercising and sleeping well — can help with maintaining a healthy weight.
Sleep well
Good quality sleep is important for brain health. Stay off screens before bed and make your sleep space as comfortable as possible. Do all you can to minimize disruptions. If you have any sleep-related problems, such as sleep apnea, talk to a health care provider.
Free Tax Services
The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 15 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2023.
Since its launch in 2001, the VITA program has helped more than 143,000 Louisville tax filers. Last year, VITA volunteers processed more than 7,700 returns, adding more than $12 million to the local economy, including nearly $2 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to residents.
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Eligible Louisville residents can make an appointment to visit these VITA sites for in-person free tax filing. Most sites use convenient drop-off services.
To schedule an appointment for in-person tax assistance, call 502-305-0005 or click HERE
- Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Dr.
- Bates, 728 East Lampton St.
- Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Ste 201
- Family Scholar House U of L, 403 Reg Smith Circle
- Family Scholar House Riverport, 3311 Cathe Dykstra Way
- Goodwill Resource Center, 909 E. Broadway
- Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
- Oldham County LaGrange Library, 308 Yager Avenue (LaGrange)
- Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird St.
- Shively City Hall, 3920 Dixie Hwy.
- St. Vincent de Paul Family Success Center, 1029 S Preston Hwy.
- Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane
- United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St.
- Wesley House Community Services, 5114 Preston Hwy.
- Various mobile locations around the city (check www.labcservices.org for sites)
For more details, including days and hours of drop off services, click HERE
2024 Optimal Aging Conference
Early Bird Registration Now Open!
Attendees can get the early bird discount by registering between now and March 19th
For more information, or to register, click HERE
AARP Community Challenge Grant
Applications are being accepted now through March 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET and must be submitted through AARP.org/CommunityChallenge. Projects must be completed by December 15, 2024. The program is open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6) nonprofits and government entities.
In 2024, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications for projects that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) across three different grant opportunities:
This is AARP’s flagship Community Challenge grant program where grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. These grants will support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; community resilience; and community health and economic empowerment.
- Capacity-Building Microgrants
These $2,500 grants are combined with additional valuable resources, such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching, and AARP publications. This grant opportunity will accept applications for projects that support Walk Audits, Bike Audits and HomeFit® Modifications.
Supporting demonstration efforts that encourage replication of promising local efforts, this grant opportunity will accept applications for digital connectivity to prepare for and respond to disaster; equitable engagement to reconnect communities; and housing choice design competitions.
Since 2017, AARP has invested $16.4 million through 1,370 grants to organizations in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Past projects have demonstrated an ability to help grantees garner additional funds or support from public and private funders, encourage replication and overcome local policy barriers and receive greater overall awareness and engagement.
Please visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge for more information and to see some of the past grantees in action – helping to revitalize alleyways, create vibrant public spaces, design safer crosswalks and much more! Feel free to ask me any questions, or you can email communitychallenge@aarp.org.
ABLEnow provides eligible individuals with disabilities a better way to save money for today's needs or invest for tomorrow. ABLEnow accounts:
- Do not jeopardize eligibility for most benefit programs, such as Medicaid and SSI.
- Are tax-advantaged, so earnings grow tax free.
- Can accept contributions from anyone: the account owner, family and friends.
- Include online account management tools and a top-rated mobile app.
Who is Eligible?
Individuals who developed qualifying disabilities before the age of 26 may be eligible to open an ABLEnow account
Ready to Learn More?
With no enrollment fee and no minimum contribution, open an account today and see the difference ABLEnow can make.
Click HERE to check your eligibility
February Featured Events
- February 5th 11am EST
In person Take Care of your Kidneys
- February 8th 11am EST In Person
Lunch and Learn Making the Most of your Doctor Visits
- February 12th 10am EST In
Person Carbs: Good or Bad? & Cooking Demo
- February 22nd 11am EST In Person
Better Bladder Control
Humana Neighborhood Center is located at 1918 Hikes Ln, Suite 101.
To view the full February calendar click HERE
Now Hiring Caregivers
$500 Sign on Bonus
Companion
Light Housekeeping
Transportation
Bathing, dressing, toileting
Meal Prep
For more information, call 502.797.5210
Recipe of the Month
Cherry Pecan Bread Pudding
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