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HEALTH AND FITNESS COMMUNITY” BY IDEAL-LIVING | 20+ UNIQUE VILLAGES TO CHOOSE FROM and financially sustain a long-term study. Florida’s Suncoast was the ideal location, and Lakewood Ranch was the perfect microcosm from which to launch the program.

Lakewood Ranch is currently the second bestselling planned community in the United States. Established in 1994, its purpose-built, multigenerational community includes single-family homes, senior living facilities, and apartments, welcoming people of all ages.

The community covers 31,000 acres, including 28 villages, numerous shopping centers, amenities, parks, and more. There are 14 preschools, 12 primary and secondary schools, and nine colleges within the community.

The over 1,300 businesses in Lakewood Ranch employ more than 15,000 people in a myriad of fields, including finance, insurance, healthcare, retail, technology, and construction.

Although the average resident is 45 years old, several Lakewood Ranch communities are strictly for homeowners 55 and older. This allows the Brain Health Initiative researchers a special opportunity to look at illnesses that take hold later in life.

“Every day, [pre-retirees and those already retired] think about the physical health of their body,” said Dr. Peabody, “but they really don’t recognize or appreciate that there are tools and resources that impact the health of their brain for better or worse.”

The fact is, the average life expectancy in the United States is projected to continue increasing, from 78.99 years old in 2021 to 83.37 years old in 2050, according to the World Health Organization. Although increased life expectancy is generally viewed as positive, the illnesses that affect the brain as we age, and the importance of brain health, are often overlooked and misunderstood.

Dementia is one of the most widely known ailments associated with increased age, and the number of people living with it is rising. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 10% of American adults over 65 have Alzheimer’s, just one of the many forms of dementia.

The Lancet International Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care estimates that globally, over 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors.

These factors include hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression, traumatic brain injury, and hearing impairment. Also included are low social contact, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, less education, and air pollution exposure.

“Brain health includes not only the physiological and metabolic health of the brain as an organ, but the dynamic interaction between the brain, mind, body, and environment,” said Dr. Peabody.

The larger Brain Health Initiative pilot program, which incorporates the input of people of all ages over many years, only launched in 2020, so data is currently being collected. However, if you don’t want to wait for the results but would like to improve or maintain healthy brain function, there are a few steps you can take:

• Eat a balanced diet and do some form of physical activity regularly

• Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake

• Look after your health in general, especially if high blood pressure or diabetes is a concern

• Get enough sleep

• Develop a robust social life

• Find a source of cognitive stimulation, whether you take a college class for fun, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries

• Get outside and into nature

“Brain health impacts virtually every aspect of our lives, from our physical health and functioning to our emotional health and our relationships with others,” said Dr. Peabody. “We’re trying to raise awareness about … those preventative steps to keep our brains healthy, resilient, and performing optimally across the lifespan.”