image: Logo for Center for BrainHealth and BrainHealth Week
Credit: Center for BrainHealth®
DALLAS (February 12, 2025) – Center for BrainHealth®, a leader in advancing the science and practice of brain health and part of The University of Texas at Dallas, announces the third annual BrainHealth Week, February 24-March 1, 2025. Events and community activities throughout the week will celebrate the brain’s lifelong potential to get stronger.
“Enhancing brain health stands as a pivotal force propelling our society forward,” said the center’s founder and chief director, Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD. “We are on a mission to provide simple tools and effective measurements for everyone – no matter their age – to proactively increase their brain’s fitness and performance and discover how strong it can be.”
Inspiring Action for Brain Gains
For the past 25+ years, the Center for BrainHealth has been redefining how people understand and address the brain’s health and performance, with leading-edge research as well as science-backed programs that empower people to be more proactive about their own brain health.
A recent national omnibus survey revealed that, while 90% of people understand that the brain’s capacity can be improved, almost 75% do not know what they can do to promote brain gains.
BrainHealth Week helps close this gap by bringing the North Texas community together with a practical focus on brain gains – getting proactive about the brain’s health and fitness at any age, and inspiring action with simple steps that are scientifically demonstrated to make a difference.
Activating Young Adults
Science shows that if we do nothing, our brains typically begin a gradual process of decline starting in our 20s; however, adopting brain-healthy practices and habits has been shown to change that trajectory, making proactive brain health particularly critical for young adults.
UT Dallas students are helping lead the way. More than 20 have volunteered to serve as BrainHealth Champions, raising awareness and inspiring action on campus throughout the week.
On Monday, February 24, Dr. Adam Woods, dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, will unveil the first-of-its-kind Brain Recharge Station. Designed by Perkins&Will, the award-winning architecture firm designing UT Dallas’ student union, this space will serve as a reminder for students to periodically unplug and take a brain break.
Convening Experts and Thought Leaders
The Center for BrainHealth also will host two major events focusing on the latest scientific progress during BrainHealth Week.
On Wednesday, February 26, the Empowering Women Through Brain Health conference brings together some of the most pioneering, exciting experts in women’s brain health to discuss discoveries being revealed across lifestages as the knowledge gap about women’s brain health is just starting to close.
On Thursday, February 27, the center hosts Accelerate! Breakthroughs in Brain Performance,
an invitation-only convening with changemakers and visionaries to explore how principles of neuroscience can help deliver and optimize peak performance. Participants will showcase innovative interventions and technologies being applied in diverse fields – from sports to the military – building on the science from Center for BrainHealth.
These events are at capacity, but those interested in receiving highlights and takeaways, as well as other resources shared during BrainHealth Week, may register free of charge.
Celebrating Art and Community
Two free, public events during the week will explore how art intersects with better brain health.
On Tuesday, February 25, young professionals are invited to experience a Night at the Museum at the recently opened Phase I building of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum on the UT Dallas campus. This networking reception and after-hours museum visit is hosted by the center’s young professionals group The Think Tank in collaboration with the Crow Museum of Asian Art.
On Thursday, February 27, community members are invited to Neuroscapes: Mapping the Mind Through Photography at Center for BrainHealth. Made possible through a grant from the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, this unforgettable evening celebrates culture, community and creativity with thought-provoking photographs from four Dallas-based artists and a panel conversation exploring the ways art shapes our understanding of brain health.
Engaging North Texas Families
On Saturday, March 1, BrainHealth Week culminates with the Family Fair, a free community event to inspire and engage families. Activities will include a brain-themed treasure hunt, games and interactive moments, and kid-friendly speakers.
The Great Brain Gain Sleep Text Challenge
Anyone with a cell phone can participate in a text challenge that offers seven days of tips for better sleep, which research has shown to be foundational to brain health at any age. The center partnered with world-renowned sleep expert Matt Walker, PhD, to create the sleep text challenge. People anywhere can participate by simply texting SLEEP to 888-844-8991. For the Spanish version, text DORMIR to 888-844-8991.
About Center for BrainHealth
Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, is a translational research institute committed to enhancing, preserving, and restoring brain health across the lifespan. Major research areas include the use of functional and structural neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neurobiology supporting the continual growth of cognition, well-being and social connections in health and disease. This leading-edge scientific exploration is translated quickly into practical innovations to improve how people think, work and live, empowering people of all ages to thrive and unlock their brain potential. Translational innovations leverage 1) the BrainHealth Index, a proprietary measure that uniquely charts one’s upward (or downward) brain health trajectory whatever their starting level; and 2) Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART™) brain health training, a strategy-based toolkit developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers and other teams over three decades. # # #
BrainHealth Week 2025 Full Programming
(all times central)
Monday, February 24
Mindful Spaces: Enhancing Brain Health and Student Success Through the Built Environment
Perkins& Will principals Debbie Beck, MPA, EdD, FACHA, and Vandana Nayak, AIA, LEED AP, explore the link between brain-healthy design and behavioral health and unveil the Brain Recharge Station – with an introduction from Dr. Adam Woods, dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and Janet Koslovsky with Center for BrainHealth.
12:00-12:30pm
McDermott Library (fourth floor) at UT Dallas
Tuesday, February 25
The sixth annual student art competition features works from students at the UT Dallas Harry W. Bass, Jr. School of Arts, Humanities and Technology as well as Dallas College.
4:30-6:00pm
Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum at UT Dallas
Hosted by The Think Tank, the center’s young professionals group, in collaboration with the Crow Museum of Asian Art, attendees celebrate the connection between art and brain health during a networking reception and after-hours visit of the new Phase I building of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum at The University of Texas at Dallas. This event is 21+.
6:30-8:30pm
Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum at UT Dallas
(free with registration)
Wednesday, February 26
Empowering Women Through Brain Health
This conference brings together nationally recognized experts to provide insights on the latest scientific breakthroughs, answer pressing questions, and offer practical strategies for women to share with their communities and organizations.
- The maternal brain: Emily Jacobs, PhD (UCSB)
- The mentally fit brain: Judith Joseph, MD, MBA (NYU)
- The perimenopausal brain: Jessica Shepherd, MD (Sanctum Med + Wellness)
- The nourished brain: Annie Fenn, MD (Brain Health Kitchen)
- Alzheimer’s and the resilient brain: Rachel Buckley, PhD (Harvard, Mass General)
- The rested brain: Matt Walker, PhD (UC Berkeley)
- AI and the digital twin brain: Nina Miolane, PhD (UCSB)
9:00am-5:00pm
Center for BrainHealth
(This event is sold out, but highlights and takeaways, as well as other resources shared during BrainHealth Week, are available free of charge.)
Thursday, February 27
Accelerate! Breakthroughs in Brain Performance
The second annual Brain3 summit convenes changemakers and visionaries to explore how principles of neuroscience can help deliver and optimize peak performance. The event is moderated by Adam Woods, PhD, dean of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at UT Dallas, and by Vice Admiral Tim Szymanski (ret.).
- Implications of Measuring Brain Performance: Precision BrainHealth Breakthroughs Panel – Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, Ian Robertson, PhD, and Mark D’Esposito, MD, co-leaders of The BrainHealth Project
- Emerging Technology to Measure Brain Change – Wes Clapp, PhD, and Brian Miller, PhD, co-founders of Neuroscouting
- How Confidence Boosts Performance – Ian Robertson, PhD, T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair, emeritus professor at Trinity College Dublin and author of How Confidence Works
- How Sleep Impacts Performance– Matt Walker, PhD, author of Why We Sleep
- Using Technology to Improve Performance – Brian Magierski, founder of 21 Impact Labs
- Optimizing Performance in the Military – Conversation with former SEALs Kevin Gatley and Alex “Ollie” Oliver, moderated by Jennifer Zientz, director of programs
11:00am-2:00pm
Center for BrainHealth
(This event is closed to the public, but highlights and takeaways, as well as other resources shared during BrainHealth Week, are available free of charge.)
Neuroscapes: Mapping the Mind Through Photography
Made possible through a grant from the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, this community reception and exhibit features thought-provoking photographs from four Dallas-based artists. A dynamic panel explores how art shapes our understanding of brain health. This event is 21+.
- Keith Vinson, artist, president of Kei Vision
- Bonnie Pitman, director of art-brain innovations at Center for BrainHealth
- Dr. Giraud Polite, artist, dean of academic affairs – arts and humanities at Dallas College
- Aaron Thomas, president of Photographically Touching Souls Deeply (PTSD)
- Johnson Price, artist, owner of Price Photography
5:30-7:30pm
Center for BrainHealth
(free with registration)
Saturday, March 1
The free community event for families with children of all ages offers a whirlwind journey into the human brain – with brain-healthy games, food, arts & crafts, activities and surprises, including:
- 11:00-11:30 Coaching Your Brain – Coach Jason Garrett talks about resilience in sports
- 12:00-12:30 Creativity and the Brain – Seven-year-old Shawn Letford and his mom read from his book, My Brain, My Brain, My Beautiful Brain.
- 1:00-1:30 Storytelling Through Dance – Uma Kymal explores rhythm and movement during an interactive dance experience.
- 1:30-2:00 Engineering your Brain – KERA Kids leads a recycled rocket creation project to practice logical and strategic brain-building skills.
- 10:00-2:00 Brain Gain Treasure Hunt and brain-building activities – Participants can enjoy fun activities throughout the day.
10:00am-2:00pm
Center for BrainHealth
(Free with registration)
Great Brain Gain Sleep Text Challenge
English version: text SLEEP to 888-844-8991
Spanish version: text DORMIR to 888-844-8991
Community Partner Toolkit
Join more than 30 companies and organizations prioritizing brain health. Any group can participate; when you take the pledge you will receive a toolkit with simple, science-backed tools to share with employees, members and constituents.
Highlights
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