Beat Alzheimer's
Courses
Beat Alzheimer's: Empowering Courses for Brain Health and Care
Are you worried about cognitive decline as you age? Struggling to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's? Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting health information? At Beat Alzheimer's, we understand your concerns and have developed targeted programmes to address them head-on.
01 | Sharper Brains: Your Shield Against Cognitive Decline
As we age, the fear of losing our mental sharpness can be overwhelming. You might be noticing small lapses in memory or struggling to focus like you used to. The thought of cognitive decline affecting your independence and quality of life is frightening. And it's not just a personal concern - Alzheimer's disease is on the rise, with numbers expected to triple in the coming 25 years. Because there is no cure, risk reduction has become a key focus in scientific research and public health action plans across the world.
The Solution
Our Sharper Brain programme is your proactive defence against cognitive decline. This 6-week course, available both in Cork and online, is designed to build your cognitive resilience. We follow the World Health Organisation's recommendations, which target the full range of protective pathways such as diet, exercise, stress, sleep, social interaction, focused awareness and cognitive function. You will learn simple actions and life interventions that can significantly reduce your risk of developing this terrible disease and increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.
Benefits
Through this programme, you will:
- Gain cutting-edge strategies to keep your mind sharp
- Learn research-backed techniques to enhance memory and focus
- Develop a personalised plan for long-term brain health
- Connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals
- Boost your confidence in your cognitive abilities
Format: 1-hour sessions per week, available in-person or online
Don't wait for problems to arise. Invest in your cognitive future today!
02 | Culinary Medicine: Nourish Your Brain, Savour Your Health
Culinary medicine is an evidence-based field of lifestyle medicine that combines culinary skills and nutrition education. It focuses particularly on the health benefits associated with the traditional Mediterranean, MIND and DASH diets.
Poor quality diet is one of the leading causes of chronic disease and mortality in our society. Ultra-processed foods laden with salt, saturated fat and sugar are everywhere, from supermarket shelves to the workplace and hospital cafeterias, and now account for more than half of our food supply.
The cookery classes at the Cork School of Culinary Medicine offer a unique combination of nutrition education and culinary knowledge to assist you achieve and maintain optimal health. You will learn how to avoid unhealthy foods and cook meals at home for you and your family that are both delicious and nourishing, while at the same time helping you achieve better health outcomes to prevent and treat diet-related chronic diseases.
In each of the classes, we will address the main barriers most people have to cooking at home such as lack of time, lack of cooking skills and budget. The meals will be ‘easy to make’ using affordable recipe ingredients.
Throughout all the classes we will use foods known to improve gut health, reduce inflammation and limit the risk of chronic disease, while including dietary recommendations for healthy nutrition.
Cork School of Culinary Medicine for Brain Health
- Discover the power of medicinal foods for brain health
- Master practical cooking skills for nutritious, delicious meals
- Learn the science behind brain-boosting ingredients
- Take home a collection of Mediterranean-inspired recipes
- Gain confidence in making brain-healthy food choices
- Understand how to navigate and resist the ultra-processed food environment
- Learn to prepare meals that are not only healthy but also delicious and sustainable
Format: Weekly hands-on cooking sessions with expert guidance
Transform your relationship with food and boost your brain health, one meal at a time! The future of healthcare starts in the kitchen.
03 | We Care - Quality Improvements for Care at Home: Empowering Carers, Enhancing Lives
Caring for someone with dementia is a demanding role that often falls to family members with little or no training. This "learning on the job" approach can lead to mistakes, increased stress, and frustration for both the carer and the person with dementia. Moreover, carers themselves are at increased risk for poor health and dementia due to the physical and emotional toll of their responsibilities. The journey can be isolating, overwhelming, and detrimental to the carer's personal well-being.
The Solution
Our Quality Improvements for Care at Home course provides essential skills and support for carers. This one-day workshop is designed to enhance your caregiving abilities while prioritising your wellbeing. We focus on practical ways to reduce frustration and agitation, improve communication skills, and emphasise the importance of self-care. Our goal is to make your caregiving journey a little easier, less damaging to your health, and less stressful, ultimately creating better memories for both you and your loved one.
At present, this course is delivered only at the SMA Centre in Wilton, Cork, but we hope to offer it at several locations in Ireland and online in 2025. Please register your interest in We Care by emailing info@beatalz.com
Benefits
- Learn effective techniques to care for persons with dementia
- Develop strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout
- Gain confidence in your caring abilities
- Connect with other carers for support and shared experiences
- Improve quality of life for both you and your loved one
- Master practical skills to reduce frustration and improve communication
- Learn the importance of self-care and how to incorporate it into your routine
Format: Weekly skill-based training sessions with expert guidance
Become the confident, effective carer your loved one needs, without sacrificing your own health!
04 | Mindfulness-Based Alzheimer’s Prevention (MBAP)
A mindfulness-based approach to Alzheimer’s disease prevention can help reduce stress, enhance mental clarity, increase positivity and improve overall brain health. This MBAP one-day workshop will lead you through a step-by-step plan to incorporate mindfulness into your lifestyle, with a focus on slowing cognitive decline and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
There is now strong evidence that a variety of meditative techniques can offset age-related cognitive decline, and may be able to increase cognitive activities in older adults.
In this one-day workshop, we will explore the crucial link between mindful awareness and better cognitive health, and we will provide you with actionable guidance and tools to effectively address sensory disruption and manage stress.
Chronic stress is a driver of elevated cortisol which is closely linked to cognitive decline. The stress management techniques you will learn will help preserve mental clarity and cognitive resilience, improve sensory perception and create a holistic approach to Alzheimer’s prevention.
What we'll work on
We will focus on several different types of mindfulness and breathing practices known to boost awareness and slow cognitive decline. There are even some studies that found early-stage dementia and mild cognitive impairment can be reversed through a regular habit of practising these meditations.
- Daily Mindful Breathing Practices
- Mindful Eating
- Mindful Movement including chair tai chi and Ageless Grace coordination exercises
- Mindful Listening and Social Engagement
- Gratitude and Positive Reflection
- Cultivate Emotional Awareness
- Stress Management
- Sleep Hygiene
- Mindful Journaling
- Visualisation Exercises
- Kirtan Kriya Meditation
You will learn these techniques throughout the one-day workshop and be encouraged to gradually incorporate them into daily routines using ‘cue centred strategies’, where you will learn to link new practices with existing habits, ensuring their uptake.
By combining mindfulness with other brain-healthy habits, you will improve cognitive function and build a strong resilience to Alzheimer’s disease.
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