The 2011 America’s Brain Health Index reveals which areas of the country have progressed, held their own or lost ground in taking measures to improve their brain health over the last two years. The state-by-state ranking of brain health is part of a national health education campaign called Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential, a partnership between life’sDHA™ and the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), designed to inspire Americans to develop and maintain healthy minds by incorporating key lifestyle factors known as the four dimensions of brain health — diet and nutrition, physical health, mental health and social well-being.
According to the2011 America’s Brain Health Index, Washington ranks No. 3 among the brain-healthiest states in the nation. Strengths include a high consumption of DHA-rich fish and DHA-fortified foods and supplements, and a population of active readers. However, Washington has challenges that include a high incidence of Alzheimer’s deaths, and it is relatively low in education state rankings.
The campaign today also introduced this year’s “Beautiful Minds,” 11 individuals from across the country who are fulfilling the four dimensions of brain health and achieving amazing things in the second half of their lives. A photo essay exhibit featuring their personal stories will travel the country through 2012 to inspire Americans to improve their own brain health.
Americans who want to join this growing brain-healthy community to find out how other states rank in America’s Brain Health Index, meet this year’s Beautiful Minds, check the schedule of the traveling photo essay exhibit and learn about simple steps that anyone can take to improve brain health are invited to visit www.beautiful-minds.com.
Top 10 Brain-Healthy States
No. 1 Maryland
No. 2 District of Columbia
No. 3 Washington
No. 4 Colorado
No. 5 Vermont
No. 6 New Hampshire
No. 7 Oregon
No. 8 Utah
No. 9 Maine
No. 10 New Jersey
