VIEW ARTICLE October 9, 2025 12:29 pm Sweet but Scary – How Halloween Sugar Haunts the Brain Halloween brings excitement, nostalgia, and a flood of candy bowls across America. Yet, behind this playful tradition lies a very real concern for our brains. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), diets high in added sugars have been linked to decreased learning ability, impaired memory, and slower cognitive processing (National Institutes of Health, […]
VIEW ARTICLE September 17, 2025 3:25 pm Eating With Purpose – How Food Choices Support Brain Health Food fuels both body and brain, which is why Nutritional Wellness is the fourth pillar of our SPIN® model. At CERTUS, we design menus that go beyond nutrition to actively support cognitive function, emotional health, and social engagement. Brain-healthy ingredients – leafy greens, colorful vegetables, omega-3-rich fish, nuts, berries, and anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric – […]
VIEW ARTICLE September 10, 2025 6:51 pm Staying Curious – How Mental Engagement Supports Quality of Life At CERTUS, we believe that curiosity is fuel for the brain. Intellectual Wellness, another pillar in our SPIN® model, plays a crucial role in keeping residents engaged, confident, and cognitively strong. The brain thrives on challenge. Research shows that mental engagement promotes cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and resist the effects […]
VIEW ARTICLE September 10, 2025 6:51 pm Staying Curious – How Mental Engagement Supports Quality of Life At CERTUS, we believe that curiosity is fuel for the brain. Intellectual Wellness, another pillar in our SPIN® model, plays a crucial role in keeping residents engaged, confident, and cognitively strong. The brain thrives on challenge. Research shows that mental engagement promotes cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and resist the effects […]
VIEW ARTICLE July 16, 2025 4:11 pm The Dementia Brain and the Healing Power of Circadian Lighting For individuals with dementia, the brain often struggles to process environmental cues. One of the most powerful – yet frequently overlooked – cues is light. Unlike standard overhead bulbs, circadian lighting mimics the natural changes of sunlight throughout the day. It supports the body’s internal rhythm and can reduce many common dementia-related challenges. Bright, blue-toned […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 20, 2025 3:17 pm Sunset Cues – Winding Down with Intentional Evening Lighting As the sun begins to set, our environments should send cues that it’s time to rest. For people living with dementia, overstimulation or too much light in the evening can contribute to agitation and poor sleep. Transition to warm-toned, dim lighting and quiet routines to signal “day’s end” and support a better night’s rest. Fact: […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 12, 2025 9:57 pm Midday Magic – Keeping Energy Up Through Light and Movement Once the body is “awake,” keeping energy and engagement up through the day is key. Midday light keeps the brain stimulated and helps prevent drowsiness, confusion, or agitation later in the day. Combine light with movement—like a walk, household task, or hobby – to boost participation and reduce late-day fatigue. Fact: Natural daylight exposure in […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 4, 2025 2:29 pm Let the Light In – Resetting the Dementia Clock June brings the perfect reminder that light is life. For those living with dementia, exposure to morning sunlight can serve as a gentle reset button for the body’s internal clock. Just like the seasons, our brains respond to environmental cues—and light is one of the most powerful. Encourage loved ones to start their day with […]
VIEW ARTICLE April 29, 2019 3:35 pm Don’t Miss The Sunrise Due To Sundowning Sundowning, or sundown syndrome, is a neurological phenomenon characterized by increased confusion and agitation that typically occurs later in the day. This condition is not a disease itself but a group of symptoms/behaviors that occur in the later afternoon and span into the night. Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, […]
VIEW ARTICLE August 1, 2018 12:59 pm Brain Health & Neuroplasticity The brain is made up of over 100 billion neurons. Some research even says, we know more about space than we do about our own brain! Many people have heard the myth that we only use 10% of our brains. Research suggests that we use 100%; however, this misconception comes from the idea that we […]
