🌟 Happenings: Mind Matters Webinar Series

The MIND Center is hosting a webinar on Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research presented by Thomas H. Mosley, PhD, the Robbie and Dudley Hughes MIND Center Chair.

This presentation will provide an update on recent research advances to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It will highlight emerging blood-based biomarkers, advances in treatments, and current understanding of risk factors and prevention strategies to enhance brain health and promote healthy aging across the lifespan.

Promising Developments in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research

📅 Wednesday, July 29, 2026

⏰ 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

💻 Online through Zoom

✅ Free, registration required

💬 Caregiver Corner: Build Your Emotional Muscles

Do you ever replay the same conversation over and over? Wonder if you handled a situation differently? Worry about what tomorrow might bring?

You're not alone.

Researchers have found that rumination, the habit of repeatedly dwelling on worries, mistakes, or "what if" thoughts, can increase stress and emotional exhaustion in dementia caregivers. While it's natural to think through difficult situations, getting stuck in the same cycle of thoughts can leave you feeling overwhelmed without bringing you any closer to a solution.

How to Recognize Rumination

You may be ruminating if you find yourself:

• Replaying the same caregiving situation over and over.
• Constantly second-guessing your decisions.
• Imagining worst-case scenarios.
• Feeling mentally "stuck" on something you can't change.
• Having trouble relaxing, even during quiet moments.

What Can Help?

When you notice yourself caught in a loop of worrying, try to gently redirect your attention.

• Take a short walk outside.
• Practice slow, deep breathing for one minute.
• Focus on one task you can do right now.
• Write your worries down, then set the notebook aside.
• Call a trusted friend or family member.

Caregiving is filled with uncertainty, and none of us can control what tomorrow will bring. What we can do is focus on the present moment and give ourselves the same compassion we so freely give to others.

One moment, one breath, and one step at a time.

🧠 Brain Health: Strengthen Your Muscles for Your Brain

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that just 90–120 minutes of strength training each week was associated with a lower risk of death from all causes, including heart disease and neurological diseases. Researchers found that the greatest benefits occurred with about 1½ to 2 hours per week, with no additional longevity benefit seen from doing more.

Strength training doesn't have to mean lifting heavy weights at the gym. Resistance bands, bodyweight exercises like squats or wall push-ups, light dumbbells, or supervised strength classes all count.

What This Means for Families

• Aim for 2–3 strength training sessions each week.
• Combine strength training with regular walking or other aerobic exercise for even greater health benefits.
• Building muscle helps support balance, mobility, bone health, and independence as we age.

It's never too late to start. Talk with your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise program, especially if you have a chronic health condition or concerns about balance or mobility.

Read the full research article.

💪 Activity of the Week: Build Some Muscle Together

Strong muscles help us stay independent, improve balance, and make everyday activities like getting out of a chair, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries a little easier. This week, spend 10–15 minutes building strength together.

Try These Simple Activities

• 🪑 Chair Sit-to-Stands
• Sit in a sturdy chair. Cross your arms over your chest or use the armrests if needed and stand up, then slowly sit back down.
• Goal: 5–10 repetitions
• 🧱 Wall Push-Ups
• Stand facing a wall with your hands shoulder-width apart. Bend your elbows to lean toward the wall, then push back.
• Goal: 8–10 repetitions
• 🥫 Soup Can Lifts
• Hold a can of soup or a small water bottle in each hand. Slowly bend and straighten your arms.
• Goal: 8–10 repetitions
• 🚶 Walk & Talk
• Finish with a walk together while sharing favorite memories or talking about your day.
• Goal: 5–10 minutes

Safety First

• Move slowly and stop if you feel pain, dizzy, or short of breath.
• Hold onto a sturdy chair or countertop if balance is a concern.
• Wear supportive shoes and keep water nearby.
• Ask your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise program if you have concerns about balance, heart conditions, or other medical issues.

Small steps build strength. A few minutes of movement today can help support health, confidence, and independence tomorrow.