Brain Health: Advancing Prevention, Healthy Aging, and Cognitive Well-Being

  • Continuing Education
Image of a brain with a growing plant inside of it.

Registration Deadline: April 16, 2027

Equip clinicians with practical tools to assess cognitive well-being, address modifiable risk factors, and integrate neuroprotective counseling into everyday practice while considering social determinants of health.

  • Live Online

This course is taught online in real time.

 

Additionally, all sessions will be recorded and made available to participants for online viewing for 30 days after the end of the course.

This is the standard price, for a full list of profession pricing see below.
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Continuing Education

Earn up to:
7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
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One Day

Please view the Schedule for a full description of the program.

On This Page

Overview

As the global population ages, cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases present a critical public health challenge. Primary care and mental health clinicians serve as the frontline for aging adults, yet clinical practice frequently lags behind the latest evidence in preventative neuroscience.

Traditionally, brain diseases are addressed reactively, focusing on diagnosis and symptom management after clinical impairment has already manifested. This evidence-based, interdisciplinary course is designed to highlight preventative measures at the level of lifestyle change and primary care, focusing on optimizing and preserving brain health as we face a significant increase in non-communicable diseases worldwide.

Participants will be equipped with practical, scalable tools to assess cognitive well-being, mitigate modifiable risk factors, and empower patients to achieve healthy aging. Expert faculty will discuss how to integrate neuroprotective lifestyle counseling directly into fast-paced practice environments, while taking into consideration key drivers such as social determinants of health. We welcome all clinicians interested in this important field to join us!

Learning Objectives

  • Review the basics about the now ubiquitous concept of “brain health”, and highlights from current research on brain healthy behaviors that reduce individual risk of dementia and that promote successful cognitive aging.
  • Address hormonal changes that occur before, during and after menopause, and how they impact brain function.
  • Identify and manage the top modifiable lifestyle and vascular risk factors associated with cognitive decline.
  • Utilize brief, validated, and culturally sensitive tools to screen for early cognitive changes and establish a baseline for healthy aging.
  • Confidently guide patients on actionable brain-healthy habits, including targeted nutrition, healthy sleep, social connections, and structured physical activity.
  • Describe the AgeWISE-AP program, and apply it to broader clinical practice.

Developed and Offered By:

  • Cambridge Health Alliance Logo

Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Cambridge Health Alliance.

Who Should Participate

Specialty Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, Nurses, Social workers, Family Therapists, Counselors, and Psychologists.

Schedule

All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.

Friday, April 16, 2027

Welcome

8:15-8:25 am

Introduction: What is Brain Health? and Keynote: Midlife Women, Menopause, and Brain Health

Zeina Chemali; Hadine Joffe

8:25-9:40 am

Behavioral Changes: What Does It Take?

Maiya Geddes

9:40-10:25 am

Break

10:25-10:45 am

Sleep

Lina Fine

10:45-11:15 am

Exercise (TBD Eddie Phillips)

11:15-11:45 am

Nutrition

Gene Bowman

11:45 am-12:15 pm

Panel Discussion / Q&A

Lina Fine; Gene Bowman

12:15-12:45 pm

Lunch Break

12:45-1:45 pm

Advancing Brain Health Through Cognitive Screening: Practical Skills for Clinicians

Margaret Lanca

1:45-2:15 pm

Social Engagement and Spirituality for Mental Health

Mandana Modirrousta

2:15-2:45 pm

Panel Discussion / Q&A

Margaret Lanca; Mandana Modirrousta

2:45-3:15 pm

Break

3:15-3:35 pm

Brain Health Evaluation and Intervention

Seth Gale

3:35-4:05 pm

The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education – Action Plan (AgeWISE-AP): A Brain Health Intervention for Older Adults

Maureen O'Connor

4:05-4:35 pm

Panel Discussion / Q&A

Seth Gale; Maureen O'Connor

4:35-5:05 pm

Close Program

5:05-5:10 pm

Faculty

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

 

Course Directors

Gene Bowman, ND, MPH
Director, Clinical Trials Platform and Brain Nutrition Laboratory, McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School

Lina Fine, MD, MPhil
Neuropsychiatrist and Sleep Specialist, Swedish Medical Center
Psychiatrist in private practice, Seattle WA

Seth Gale, MD
Co-Director, Brain Health Program, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School

Maiya Geddes, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University
Killam Scholar, Montreal Neurological Institute

Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc
Chair and Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Paula A. Johnson Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Women’s Health, Harvard Medical School

Mandana Modirrousta, MD PhD FRCPC
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba
Director, BrainWave Clinic

Maureen O'Connor, PsyD, ABPP-CN
Director of Neuropsychology and Director of Neuropsychology Training, Bedford VA Medical Center Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

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Course Fees

Registration Details

You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Session recordings are available 30 days after the course ends.

At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.

Review the cancellation policy.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Live/Live Online Courses: To receive CME/CE credit, learners are required to complete the course evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, you will be able to claim your credit and download your certificate. All evaluations and credit claims must be completed within 60 days of the course end date.

Online Courses: To receive CME/CE credit, learners must pass the course post-test and complete the course evaluation in order to claim credit before the final day of the accreditation period. Learners have access to the course for 60 days after the accreditation period has expired.

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For the purpose of recertification, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing Center accept  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.00 continuing education credits. 

 Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted to NASW-MA. Please contact us at cme@challiance.org for the status of social work CE accreditation. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.00 contact hours.   

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org. 

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.0 continuing education hours and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.00 credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT Professional Continuing Education. Certification #215576707. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the Union of European Medical Specialists website.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

  • Provide Patient-Centered Care
  • Employ Evidence-Based Practice

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

  • Patient Care and Procedural Skills
  • Medical Knowledge
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Disclaimer & Disclosure

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Registration for courses managed by Harvard Medical School can only be completed through Harvard Medical School’s official registration portal: cmeregistration.hms.harvard.edu. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored and will not be refunded. Please report any unauthorized websites or solicitations for registrations.

In order to comply with applicable U.S. export control and sanctions regulations, Harvard Medical School prohibits access to and use of Harvard Medical School educational offerings, programs and resources to individuals from certain sanctioned regions or who are otherwise subject to U.S. government sanctions, unless appropriate authorization is in place.

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