Healthy Brain
Wellness Begins with a Healthy Brain
The importance of cognitive assessments for healthy aging
By Nicole Aubertin
Today, when people refer to the concept of “wellness,” they usually describe a state of integrated psychological and physical health. But there is much more to true wellness than simply finding harmony in body and mind. The brain, a very special organ, must be looked at quite separately from general physical health and brain function must be assessed and improved in unique ways that generally fall outside the realm of primary healthcare. The often neglected third dimension of true wellness is brain health and few organizations really understand the subtle interplay between mind, body and brain.
The Brain Health Program at Copeman Healthcare is based on recent discoveries in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Based on strong scientific evidence, we now understand more completely how declining brain health can have a profound impact on both physical and psychological health. Basic cognitive functions can be assessed and “baselined” in order to detect any early signs of disease or age-related cognitive decline. More importantly, such decline in many cases can be prevented or delayed. Copeman Healthcare pays special attention to your brain, beginning with a Brief Cognitive Measure (BCM) or a Memory and Cognition Assessment (MCA) that is used to establish a baseline before tailoring a program suited to your individual needs.
Cognitive assessments evaluate important areas of brain function. These include: memory, concentration, processing speed, language, and reasoning capabilities. In recent years, it has become clear that baseline assessments are essential to tracking complete wellness because they establish a personalized benchmark for future comparison. Just as changes in blood pressure or waistline help your physician track your risk of metabolic syndrome, cognitive assessments allow your neuropsychologist to track changes in your brain health. This enables your care team to identify early signs of problems and take action immediately. A baseline assessment provides a reference point to measure against in the case of problems or concerns (including major illness or injury). It also helps you and your team focus on specific areas when developing a treatment and prevention plan.
Although appropriate for clients of all ages and in all phases of life, Brief Cognitive Measures (BCM) and Memory and Cognition Assessments (MCA) may be of greatest interest to those:
- aged 55 or older
- interested in early detection, prevention, and optimization of overall health
- with cardiac, vascular or other chronic health conditions
- with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or neurological conditions
- involved in activities that put them at increased risk for head injuries (e.g., sports, occupation)
Note that obtaining a baseline may be particularly important for children and adolescents who tend to have active lifestyles and rapidly developing cognitive skills. Brief Cognitive Measures may be repeated every 1 to 5 years.
Baseline assessments typically include:
- Clinical consultation with a Neuropsychologist (Ph.D. expert in brain health)
- Standardized testing
- Recommendations to optimize brain health (provided to the client and their family physician)
Fees generally range from $550 to $3500 depending upon the nature of the services required. Brain Health services are available in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Visit us online at www.copemanhealthcare.com for more information.
Copeman Healthcare Centre
Toll free: 1.888.922.2792
www.copemanhealthcare.com
Vancouver or West Vancouver Centres:
Tia Young: 604.707.2273
tyoung@copemanhealthcare.com
Calgary Centre:Cristle Jasken:
403.270.2273
cjasken@copemanhealthcare.com
Edmonton Centre:
Treena Popowich: 780.392.0716
tpopowich@copemanhealthcare.com
