Minds Matter PLLC

11/21/2025

It’s just who we are…😉

Happy Friday everyone!

11/20/2025

Cognitive reserve...what's that??? Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and compensate for age-related changes or pathological damage. Studies show that individuals with higher cognitive reserve can withstand greater neurological insults while maintaining functional cognitive abilities.

Overall, lifelong learning, intellectual engagement, and lifestyle choices contribute to building a more resilient brain. Cognitive reserve explains why some individuals with significant brain damage from Alzheimer's, strokes, concussions, illness have fewer clinical symptoms than others.

And this is why I want you in our office sooner rather than later. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So set up the appointment, take the time to see what IS working in your brain and what could use a little tweaking. Let's build a nice fat brain that can weather the storm of aging!

11/19/2025

This can start at age 35?!? Someone asked me "what is perimenopause?" the other day. I talk about perimenopause because women experience brain fog and start noticing changes in their cognition and start worrying about dementia as our hormones start to shift.

Here's a good description from one my favorites... The Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver. Women, if you want a play book on our bodies, check out Mary Claire Haver's "The New Menopause," or "The Menopause Brain" by Lisa Mosconi. Great reads!!!

11/17/2025

Do you have 3-5minutes a day to invest in your brain to prevent dementia in your future?

11/16/2025

I'm revisiting one of my favorite books, OUTLIVE, by Dr. Peter Attia. He talks about the fact that women live longer than men as a sort of double-edged sword, "Women live longer but tend to be in poorer health." He calls this the "marginal decade" for women.

Let's change that. Today. What is the one step you can make that IMPROVES your health if you keep that one small habit going? Have a great idea?!? Leave it in the comments below. Here are a few ideas to start you out:

-Every morning after you brush your teeth, do 5 air squats.
-Drink one glass of water with every cup of coffee (More hydration AND you're going to trick yourself into more exercise running to the bathroom!!!)
-Sigh Deeply and quickly say THANKS FOR THIS DAY! Repeat at least every hour!
-FLOSS

I don't want the "Marginal Decade". I want the "Bonus Decade". One small change today....GO!!!!

11/12/2025

If you are an Occupational Therapist who believes dementia care deserves more in our community - more time, more involvement with family and more education - you might be the right fit for our team.

At Minds Matter our mission is simple: we are changing the standard for brain health. We are seeking an OT who is passionate about helping people with dementia and cognitive decline live fuller, more dignified lives. This person will educate families and isn't afraid to have tough conversations...someone who wants to make an impact that lasts long after a therapy session ends.

You will be part of a small, tight-knit team that values flexibility, family and lifelong learning just as much as we value great therapy.

If you are ready to do work that really matters in an environment that feels like home, I would love to talk to you.

Email me at: tiffany@mindsmatter.life and let's see if you're the next heart and mind to join our team.



University of South Dakota Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce Tiffany Hoeft University of North Dakota

11/11/2025

This…

11/10/2025

It takes an average of 17 years for medical research to be implemented into mainstream practice. Frustrating...especially when it comes to estrogen. In 2002, following the Women's Health Initiative study, the risks of cancer and stroke from hormone replacement therapy were overstated. Women were told to stop hormone replacement therapy or be at high risk of breast cancer or heart attacks or strokes.

I am happy to see that they're FINALLY repealing the black box warnings on estrogen. But sad that an entire generation of women have weaker bones, increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and heart attack because of an overstatement of risk.

Estrogen receptors are found in every cell throughout our body. The lack of estrogen affects more that just our hoo hoos and tatas. It has a huge impact on women's brains. Crazy that it took 23 years to clear up the misconstrued data from that study!!!

Hormone therapy drugs have carried box warning labels for years. The Food and Drug Administration is removing them, saying the risks were overstated.

11/10/2025

I'm SERIOUS when I say I am a client at Minds Matter. We all should be. Trust me, my brain is FAR from perfect.

But if I want to aim for not just a long life, but one where I stay mentally sharp and active, I know I better practice what I preach. And from the looks of this exercise with Bethany Hanson, it looks like I could practice a little more!

Minds Matter covers all stages of cognition. We see people coming in for a baseline cognitive evaluation and brain mapping who are seeking preventative brain health -- to those with mild cognitive impairment following a concussion, peri-menopause or illness, -- to more serious brain changes from dementia and traumatic brain injury.

We help those from normal cognition to dementia and everywhere in between. Call us at (605) 725-2828 or email: info@mindsmatter.life for more information!

Speech Therapy PD Aberdeen Area Senior Center Aberdeen Family YMCA Tiffany Hoeft

11/08/2025

This one goes out to a fighter...

For those of you who knew Roxie Orr's story, you could always admire her quirks, because you knew you were in the presence of a miracle.

27 years ago, a group of girls driving to Clark for a high school Valentine's Day dance rocked the little town of Bristol. I remember waitressing at the HOT Spot that night when Harold and Marcia Orr got the call about the girls' horrific car crash. Those girls brought that small town together to pray and to hope. And against all odds, they survived.

They call brain injuries the "invisible injury". It was easy to forget as time went on that Roxie had a chunk of her brain removed to survive that crash. She had to fight to learn how to walk, how to talk, how to think and how to drive. She easily could have given up. She could have complained. But she didn't. She fought through to get her nursing degree. She raised a beautiful daughter. She brought a smile to everyone she met....and maybe sometimes a little frustration 🙂

Roxie allowed me a front-row seat to her grit and determination back then when she let me as her former babysitter and then college student shadow her when she went through therapy. And I have her and Susan Sigdestad Damm to thank for showing me why we should HOPE. They are a huge part of not only what I do for a living, but HOW I do it. They taught me to never give up on anyone. Against all odds, they were NEVER just survivors. They THRIVED!!!!

Roxie was still a practicing nurse...quick-witted and no-nonsense. When she could have easily gone on disability, she fought on because she had compassion for her patients - learned from the knowledge of what excellent medical care had done for her. She fought through her challenges and made a difference to anyone in her care.

After February 14, 1998, Roxie's life was never easy. But for anyone surviving a brain injury, I wish you even a FRACTION of the grit, determination and overwhelming hope that Roxie showed us.

We all lost that little ray of sunshine on November 3rd, 2025. Roxie - You are gone too soon. And we will all miss that mile-a-minute, filter-free giggling voice of yours. Thank you Roxie for the smiles, for the occasional loving shakes of our heads, but most of all for showing us HOPE.

To read more about Roxie's story, check out this 2019 American News article:

https://bit.ly/49HKgfw

Susan Sigdestad Damm Tiffany Hoeft Brain Injury Association of America Lake Area Tech

11/07/2025

Know someone fighting Parkinson's Disease? Tell them about Rock Steady Boxing at Aberdeen Family YMCA. Bethany Hanson and Terrill Meier Ymca put together a great workout! Minds Matter PLLC is so grateful to partner up with the YMCA to bring this program to our community. ROCK STEADY!!!!!

Rock Steady Crew Parkinson's Foundation Aberdeen Area Senior Center Rock Steady Boxing International HQ

11/07/2025

Soooo much fun for a great cause. Get your tickets and support Safe Harbor!!! PS….I spy a few Minds Matter PLLC faces in this video 😊!!!!