Vital Minds: Indy Brain Health Initiative

05/29/2026

Re-post from the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: We're just over one week out from Memory University! We hope you'll join us for great talks from Brea Perry, PhD and the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter! Between talks, take the opportunity to speak with one of our many vendors who are there to share great opportunities with you.
Register: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY

We're just over one week out from Memory University! We hope you'll join us for great talks from Brea Perry, PhD and the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter! Between talks, take the opportunity to speak with one of our many vendors who are there to share great opportunities with you.

Register: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY

05/28/2026

Next one is June 9th🎉

05/28/2026

Re-post from UIndy Center for Aging & Community:
🌸 Mental Health Matters at Every Age! 🌸
May is Older Americans and Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to break a major myth: persistent sadness, anxiety, or severe loneliness are not just "normal parts of getting older."
Aging brings major life transitions—retirement, health changes, or the loss of loved ones. While these shifts are natural, no one should have to navigate their emotional impact alone. Your mental well-being is just as vital as your physical health, no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake. 🎂💚
How you can support the older adults in your life today:
☎️Check in: A simple text, phone call, or coffee date can completely shatter isolation.
👂Listen closely: Create a safe space for them to vent without feeling like a burden.
🔎Watch for shifts: Notice changes in their sleep, appetite, or if they stop doing things they love.

To our older adults and caregivers: Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness—it’s a courageous step toward reclaiming your joy.

If you or a loved one is in crisis, please remember the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is always free, confidential, and available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

🌸 Mental Health Matters at Every Age! 🌸

May is Older Americans and Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to break a major myth: persistent sadness, anxiety, or severe loneliness are not just "normal parts of getting older."

Aging brings major life transitions—retirement, health changes, or the loss of loved ones. While these shifts are natural, no one should have to navigate their emotional impact alone. Your mental well-being is just as vital as your physical health, no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake. 🎂💚

How you can support the older adults in your life today:

☎️Check in: A simple text, phone call, or coffee date can completely shatter isolation.
👂Listen closely: Create a safe space for them to vent without feeling like a burden.
🔎Watch for shifts: Notice changes in their sleep, appetite, or if they stop doing things they love.

To our older adults and caregivers: Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness—it’s a courageous step toward reclaiming your joy. Whether you need social connection, wellness resources, or just a listening ear, [Organization Name] is here for you.

If you or a loved one is in crisis, please remember the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is always free, confidential, and available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

05/27/2026

Some diets have been shown to provide a variety of health benefits. The Mediterranean diet — which focuses on foods like vegetables, whole grains and olive oil — is known for being heart-healthy. But it can also be good for your brain, by minimizing white and gray matter changes.

“It has been found that the Mediterranean diet also decreases white matter changes,” says memory and brain health specialist Babak Tousi, MD. “It increased thickness in gray parts of the brain, we call it the cortex of the brain where the thinking process is.”

Here are some brain foods to add to your plate:

Fish
Turns out, the “chicken of the sea” is more than a healthy meat alternative — it also serves as good brain fuel. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for learning and memory.

Some examples of fish and seafood products to add to your diet include:

-Salmon.
-Tuna.
-Herring.
-Sardines.

Berries
“Add color to your plate,” recommends Dr. Tousi. Making sure your meals have a mix of different fruits and vegetables is a good way to get a balance of nutrition for your body and brain.

Some delicious berries to add to your diet include:

-Blueberries.
-Strawberries.
-Blackberries.

Whole grains
Another food swap that could have a positive impact on brain health is switching out refined carbohydrates with whole grains. Along with other health benefits, whole grains can have a positive impact on brain health because of the way they’re processed in your body.

Try swapping out your simple carbs with whole-grain substitutions such as:

-Brown rice.
-Quinoa.
-Oatmeal.
-Whole-grain bread.
-Whole-grain pasta.
-Buckwheat.

Overall, being mindful of what you eat can have many health benefits for your whole body — including your brain and memory. Even small changes can make a big difference. Explore new diets or switch out certain foods in your daily meals to deliver some brain-boosting goodness.

05/21/2026

Re-post from Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter: It's helpful to plan ahead before having a conversation about memory concerns with a loved one. Focus on specific examples and use compassionate, nonjudgmental language.
ALZNavigator is a free step-by-step support tool for those concerned about memory loss, caregivers and people living with dementia. Create an action plan: https://bit.ly/418v8T1

It's helpful to plan ahead before having a conversation about memory concerns with a loved one. Focus on specific examples and use compassionate, nonjudgmental language.
ALZNavigator is a free step-by-step support tool for those concerned about memory loss, caregivers and people living with dementia. Create an action plan: https://bit.ly/418v8T1

05/19/2026

Re-post from Marion County, Indiana's ABCs of Diabetes: Free Adult Diabetes Education Program at the Lawrence Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. Topics include medications, healthy eating habits, increasing activity, and preventing complications. Registration is required. Please click the button to sign up today!

05/18/2026

Re-post from Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter: Join us for an upcoming virtual session of The Empowered Caregiver education program on Wednesday, May 27. During this session, learn why it’s important to plan for care changes and discuss what types of resources and support services are available, including respite care, long-term care and end of life options.
Register today at bit.ly/Caregiver-MAY27.

Join us for an upcoming virtual session of The Empowered Caregiver education program on Wednesday, May 27. During this session, learn why it’s important to plan for care changes and discuss what types of resources and support services are available, including respite care, long-term care and end of life options.
Register today at bit.ly/Caregiver-MAY27.

05/18/2026

Re-Post from The Polis Center: On May 21, The Polis Center and WFYI Indianapolis, with Central Indiana Community Foundation, will host a free community conversation focused on the mental health of adults age 60 and older—grounded in findings from the State of Aging in Central Indiana Report.

Learn more and register: https://savi.org/.../the-state-of-mental-health-of-older.../

Mental health is a growing concern across Indiana, yet the needs of older adults are often overlooked.
On May 21, The Polis Center and WFYI Indianapolis, with Central Indiana Community Foundation, will host a free community conversation focused on the mental health of adults age 60 and older—grounded in findings from the State of Aging in Central Indiana Report.
� Learn more and register: https://savi.org/event/the-state-of-mental-health-of-older-adults-in-central-indiana/

05/15/2026

05/15/2026

Ready to feed your brain and your belly? 🧠

Join us next Wednesday, May 20 for a Lunch & Learn with Alzheimer's Association and Guardian Care!

We'll be at Christ Missionary Baptist Church to discuss "A Caregivers Guide to Finances" from 1-3 pm.

RSVP: event_rsvp@cmbcindy.org

05/14/2026

Re-post from Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: REMINDER | Memory University with guest speaker Ann Jones, MD is tomorrow afternoon! Her talk will focus on medical problems that follow a stroke and how to work with them -- as this is Stroke Awareness Month. Please join us! Register: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY

REMINDER | Memory University with guest speaker Ann Jones, MD is tomorrow afternoon! Her talk will focus on medical problems that follow a stroke and how to work with them -- as this is Stroke Awareness Month. Please join us! Register: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY