AFFIRMATIVhealth, PLLC, has announced a series of retreats beginning in December as part of the RE:mind program, an educational lifestyle management program for those at risk or suffering from mild cognitive impairment, early stage Alzheimer’s disease, and other early stage forms of dementia.
The Re:mind program utilizes a science-based, educational lifestyle approach originally created by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. AFFIRMATIVhealth has licensed the Buck Institute science for the RE:mind program
“Those with early-stage Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive impairment are often told there is nothing they can do, but for many, new research shows that this is not true,” said Denise Kalos, AFFIRMATIVhealth Chief Operating Officer. “RE:mind is a science-based program that provides an alternative for those looking for other options and willing to think outside the box in order to become proactive in managing their condition.”
“It’s becoming more and more clear that Alzheimer’s disease is largely a metabolic disease, and that addressing an individual’s metabolic profile and health may have a greater effect on cognition than standard medical approaches to Alzheimer’s disease, which typically include monotherapy pharmaceuticals with questionable benefit,” said Ryan Fortna, MD, PhD, and Scientific Director of AFFIRMATIVhealth.
The RE:mind approach is based on scientific data suggesting that Alzheimer’s disease does not follow a single pathway. Rather, the program provides a personalized approach that recognizes each person has different needs.
The personalized report provided during the retreat assesses each participant’s body chemistry and genetics to identify potential causes of decline and potential pathways for improvement such as changes in metabolism, inflammation, and insulin signaling. The report also provides individualized recommendations that may help memory improvement such as modifications to diet, exercise, sleep and, in many cases, supplements or other therapies to optimize overall cognitive health.
The Re:mind program includes:
- Comprehensive assessment of a person’s biochemistry and genetics, resulting in a report for each individual that identifies overall physical health as related to cognitive wellbeing, and areas known to be problematic to dementia. This individualized report is the starting point from which participants can begin to address issues specific to their biology
- Participation in a four-day retreat in Sonoma, California, where participants, accompanied by a companion, review their personal reports with medical professionals and receive education and instruction on critical lifestyle changes needed. Sonoma is selected because it offers a quiet and positive environment for beginning a renewal of physical and cognitive health.
- A comprehensive report for the participant’s treating physician to review with the patient and support persons when they return from the immersion experience.
- Personalized participant follow up and testing to quantitatively assess individual progress.
The next retreat is scheduled for December 5-8, 2016 in Sonoma, California. Retreats will be held monthly starting April 2017. Participants are asked to sign up 12 weeks before a retreat in order to complete the tests required.
For further information, contact Denise Kalos at AFFIRMATIVhealth, 707.800.2302, or by email at: remind@affirmativhealth.com
Program Background
The RE:mind program was originally created by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in response to an abundance of public interest in early studies published by Buck Institute researchers. These studies showed promising results on the reduction of cognitive decline by optimizing key components of metabolic health and other lifestyle factors.
The Buck Institute is a non-profit organization focused on aging and age-related disease research, including Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. AFFIRMATIVhealth is a physician-owned company which has licensed the Buck Institute science for the RE:Mind program, bringing educational awareness and scientific advances to the domestic and international dementia community. A large proportion of the proceeds from these workshops is dedicated to funding the Buck Institute to continue its research on Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases.