Gerontology

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:09:59 +0000

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise Taylor Thomas Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:09

As we age, keeping our bodies active helps us stay healthier for longer and protects against chronic disease. We can also exercise our brains to prevent age-related mental decline with activities like reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises.

Photo by Getty Images

The idea of “working out” the mind is core to the StrongerMemory program, a rigorous brain training curriculum developed by the Goodwin Living Foundation and tested by �鶹��Ƶ social workers. Gerontology research specialist Emily Ihara, with co-investigator George �鶹��Ƶ Professor of Social Work Catherine J. Tompkins, found that mental exercise such as preventing age-related mental decline resulted in both self-reported and researcher-assessed improvements in key brain health indicators among older adult participants.

“The StrongerMemory program was associated with both objective and subjective improvements in cognitive functioning among older adults. The components stimulated and strengthened working memory, attention, and decision-making processes,” said Ihara, professor and chair in the Department of Social Work at George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health (CPH).

Unlike previous cognitive exercise programs, which focused on a single aspect of brain health (e.g., memory or attention alone), the activities of this program were specifically chosen to stimulate multiple parts of the brain with the goal of combating progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD).

“By combining reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises, the program engages multiple cognitive pathways, offering broader benefits than single-domain approaches. The results can inform practitioners, policymakers, and families about practical, affordable, non-pharmacological ways to possibly mitigate cognitive decline and promote healthy aging,” said Ihara.

Emily Ihara. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

Older adults in the StrongerMemory program participated in three daily activities for 30 minutes per day: 10 minutes each of reading aloud, writing by hand, and completing simple math problems. The program was tailored, allowing participants choice in reading material and writing content. For example, some older adults chose to write letters to family. At the conclusion, implementers interviewed participants and conducted tests on memory recall, verbal fluency, attention, dates, and location.

Age-related cognitive decline can include memory loss, lapses in attention, trouble performing daily tasks, and confusion, among others that could be warnings of ADRD. Participants were recruited from older adult living communities, and self-reported cognitive decline but did not have a formal ADRD diagnosis.

Can brain exercises mitigate cognitive decline? A quasi-experimental evaluation of the StrongerMemory program was published July 2025 in Educational Gerontology.

Tompkins, who is also associate dean for faculty and staff affairs, and Hyun Kang from the James Madison University, and a former CPH postdoctoral researcher, served as co-authors of the study. Additionally, several George �鶹��Ƶ and CPH alumni were contributors, including Francesca A. Keesee, MSW ‘23; McKenzie S. Lauber, BSW ’23, MSW ‘24; Catherine M. Magee, MSW ‘23; Kendall Barrett, BSW ‘20, MSW ‘22; Madeline Holden, MSW ‘22; Harveen Pantleay, MSW ‘22; and Gergana N. Hardy, MA Sociology '24.

Read more about the efficacy of the StrongerMemory program:

I Have Decided to Read Out Loud for the Rest of My Life! Cognitive Health and the StrongerMemory Program

Boosting Cognitive Training through Social Engagement: Impacts on Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline

�鶹��Ƶ the researcher

Emily Ihara is a social work and gerontology researcher focused on developing and evaluating community-based interventions that support cognitive health for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Her expertise bridges practice-based innovation and rigorous research methods, with an emphasis on accessible, scalable solutions to pressing challenges in aging societies.

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

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For older adults, extreme heat can mean life or death

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:54:37 +0000

For older adults, extreme heat can mean life or death Taylor Thomas Fri, 08/29/2025 - 13:54

In This Story

Li-Mei Chen, PhD

Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, sunburn, and heat stroke are known to be dangerous for everyone, but older adults are at heightened risk and are likely to suffer more drastic health consequences if those close to them, whether that be family members, friends, or caregivers, are not vigilant.

Healthy aging scholar and gerontologist Li-Mei Chen specializes in the health and well-being of older adults, and how caregivers and systems can better support them. Chen, assistant professor of social work at �鶹��Ƶ's College of Public Health, answers pressing questions on how to keep older adults safe in extreme heat, offering actionable preventive measures key to protection from heat exposure.

Why are heat-related illnesses particularly dangerous for older adults?

Failing to understand the dangers of heat-related illnesses can be life-threatening. Compared to younger people, older adults require more water for the body to function properly, such as producing sweat to cool the body. Furthermore, older adults are less sensitive to thirst and will forego drinking water as often as they should. Also, older adults are more likely to have chronic health conditions, which can be exacerbated by extreme heat.

How do common heat-related illnesses manifest differently among seniors?

Heat-related illnesses can manifest differently in older adults. People aged 60 years and older and individuals with obesity, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease or long-standing diabetes are at increased risk of heat-related illness. Aging and chronic diseases may impair the body’s ability to regulate core body temperature in hot conditions.

Additionally, personal circumstances contribute to an increased risk of heat-related illness. Older adults who are unable to leave their homes, lack contact with other people, experience severe mental illness, poverty, and decreased mobility face even greater risk.

What are some early warning signs to look out for?

Early signs of heat-related illness include dizziness, redness in the face, excessive sweating, muscle pain, and leg cramps. As the symptoms worsen, older adults may experience nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakened consciousness, and high body temperature.

If you are with someone showing signs of heat-related illness, remove them from direct sunlight, such as to under the shade of a tree, and try to relocate them to a cooler environment. Placing cold wet clothes on the forehead and neck can help alleviate symptoms and bring body temperature down. If symptoms are not improving, call 911 so medical professionals can render care.

Top 10 Tips to keep older adults safe and healthy in extreme heat

Check the weather before going out.
Ensure any venue is older adult-friendly with access to sitting areas and places to escape the heat periodically.
Hydrate! Take small sips of water regularly, even if not thirsty.
Apply and reapply sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30.
Wear sunglasses and a hat.
Dress in breathable, lightweight clothing.
Monitor indoor temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
Adjust air conditioning as needed to keep indoor spaces cool.
Keep furniture away from direct sunlight.
Have a plan in place in case of emergency with family, friends, and neighbors, and be prepared to take action.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Li-Mei Chen about heat and older adults, please contact media contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.

Li-Mei Chen is a gerontologist and a healthy aging scholar. She is an assistant professor of social work in �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health. She is also a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Chen’s teaching and research focus on dementia and aging, productive aging, intersectionality and the role of lifecourse in older ethnic minorities, community gerontology, and social policy. Her recent projects included hosting an international seminar in Japan on person-centered care for dementia, community-based strategies for civic engagement of older adults and the role of structural injustices and social exclusion on minority health and well-being. Her research includes developing a VR-based training for certified nursing assistants that will expand empathy for dementia patients. Recently, Chen took part in the annual Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Capitol Hill Advocacy Day to champion aging-related policy priorities.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., �鶹��Ƶ enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. �鶹��Ƶ has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

�鶹��Ƶ College of Public Health at �鶹��Ƶ

The College of Public Health at �鶹��Ƶ is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

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College of Public Health

Leading the charge: George �鶹��Ƶ researchers advocate for older adults in Capitol Hill campaign

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 16 May 2025 19:03:22 +0000

Leading the charge: George �鶹��Ƶ researchers advocate for older adults in Capitol Hill campaign Mary Cunningham Fri, 05/16/2025 - 15:03

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Li-Mei Chen, PhD

Li-Mei Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, and Health Services Research PhD student Linda Hayes Bennett participated in the annual Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Capitol Hill Advocacy Day on April 29–30, 2025. The advocacy campaign brought together researchers and professionals from across the country to promote aging-related policy priorities and champion additional funding.

Li-Mei Chen (second from the left) and Linda Hayes Bennett (second from the right) with colleagues at the annual Gerontological Society of America's Capitol Hill Advocacy Day. Photo provided.

“As scientists, we adapt to new ways of thinking about health and aging when funding and priorities change. I think the touching stories of how our current work serves and helps older adults in our community and state moved the legislative staff and Congress people we met with,” said Hayes Bennett.

As part of the Virginia delegation, Chen and Bennett met with legislative staff from the offices of Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Congressmen H. Morgan Griffith and Don Beyer, and Congresswoman Erica Eisenman. They advocated for sustained investment in programs that support older adults, including Medicaid, the Administration for Community Living programs such as Meals on Wheels, and funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They emphasized the economic and scientific value of NIH support—highlighting that in fiscal year 2023, NIH funding generated an estimated $92.9 billion in economic activity, with every $1 of investment returning $2.50 in economic benefits. Using data from Science Impacts, Chen and Bennett illustrated the potential impact of proposed budget cuts on research progress and job losses.

Chen shared insights from her research, which uses virtual reality to train nursing home direct care staff in relationship-centered dementia care. She noted that many direct care workers receive no formal training in dementia care, and among those who do, 54% struggle with training delivered exclusively in English. Her colleague explained the prevalence rates of dementia by constituency area, and they advocated for the need of dementia care workforce training and research in Virginia.

“It was an honor to stand alongside distinguished colleagues representing the next generation of researchers advocating for this important work,” said Hayes Bennett. “I am grateful to my mentor/advisor Gilbert Gimm for encouraging me to rejoin GSA.”

Fellow gerontology scholars from Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Georgetown University also participated in the event. GSA is the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging, with more than 6,000 members—80% of whom receive federal funding, primarily through the NIH and National Institute on Aging (NIA). Chen is a Fellow and long-standing member of GSA, and Bennett is an active member.

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PhD in Health Services Research

Students

Melissa Hensley

John Brandon Cantrell — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:19:08 +0000

Melissa Hensley John Brandon C… Fri, 06/10/2022 - 09:19

Assistant Director of Practicum Education, Social Work

Contact Information

Email: mhensle@gmu.edu

Phone: (703) 993-6795

Biography

Melissa Hensley joined the �鶹��Ƶ Department of Social Work in April 2020 as a Practicum Education Coordinator. Prior to joining the Department of Social Work, Melissa’s work focused on long-term care and hospice, as well as advocacy within the community for additional programs to support the aging population. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Gerontology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Degrees

Master of Social Work, University of Tennessee

BA, Psychology, University of Tennessee

Miki Goerdt, MSW, LCSW, ATR-BC

admin_alpha — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 04:52:01 +0000

Miki Goerdt, MSW, LCSW, ATR-BC admin_alpha Thu, 11/09/2017 - 23:52

Adjunct Faculty, Social Work

Biography

Miki Nishida Goerdt LCSW, LCSW-C, ATR-BC is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Clinical Social Worker licensed in Virginia and Maryland. Her private practice focuses on serving older adults, clients of color, and immigrants and their descendants. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she has worked in long-term care facilities, county outpatient programs, hospice, and dialysis centers.

Miki is a clinical supervisor and educator with a passion for creating culturally responsive, anti-oppressive learning spaces for the next generation of social workers and therapists. Her publications and presentations center on topics related to older adults, art therapy, culturally empowering practices, race, and inclusion. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3288-018X

She also engages in social justice advocacy through artistic expression. Miki is known for using art to make invisible stories visible—raising awareness of marginalized experiences and exploring healing through culturally affirming practices. Her artwork is informed by psychological theories, critical frameworks, and her lived experiences as a Japanese immigrant and woman of color in the United States. She practices traditional Japanese printmaking methods such as Mokuhanga to honor her cultural pride and identity.

Her solo exhibition, Remembering to Heal, was held in 2024 at The d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA, visually narrating her personal journey through cultural grief and the meaning of healing. She also raised awareness about diversity, inclusion, and the struggles of international students in America by organizing the group exhibition Am I Welcome Here?, which was showcased at four different venues in the Washington, D.C. area between 2024 and 2025.

Degrees

MSW, Social Work, Marywood University
Advanced Graduate Certification, Art Therapy, Marywood University

Gerontology

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise

In This Story

Related News

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For older adults, extreme heat can mean life or death

In This Story

Why are heat-related illnesses particularly dangerous for older adults?

How do common heat-related illnesses manifest differently among seniors?

What are some early warning signs to look out for?

Top 10 Tips to keep older adults safe and healthy in extreme heat

Topics

Leading the charge: George �鶹��Ƶ researchers advocate for older adults in Capitol Hill campaign

In This Story

Topics

Melissa Hensley

Contact Information

Biography

Degrees

Miki Goerdt, MSW, LCSW, ATR-BC

Biography

Degrees