National Center for Creative Aging and life'sDHA™ Seek Inspiring Adults Age 55 and Over to Champion Importance of Lifelong Brain Health
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) has partnered with life'sDHA™ to seek nominations at www.beautiful-minds.com for adults 55 and over who are doing beautiful things with their minds without letting age be a barrier. Ten individuals will be selected to be featured in a national photo exhibit, "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential," which will travel to multiple cities as part of an educational campaign designed to inspire all Americans to maintain better brain health. Submissions will be accepted through May 13, 2011. Launched in 2010, the "Beautiful Minds" campaign celebrates individuals who are keeping their minds beautiful throughout life, and raises awareness of the actions people can take to maintain one of the most vital parts of the body – the brain. The campaign focuses on the latest brain health research, specifically the four dimensions of brain health – diet and nutrition, physical health, mental health and social well-being.
"We are excited to showcase how adults 55 and over are using the four dimensions of brain health to do extraordinary things with their minds and bodies," said Gay Powell Hanna, Ph.D., M.F.A., executive director for the National Center for Creative Aging. "Our Beautiful Minds continue to be an inspiration to others, and we're looking forward to selecting ten more individuals who are positively influencing their brain health. This campaign is a wonderful way to show the potential of creativity in later life, which contributes to the health and wellbeing of older people and allows them to do the things they love, longer." "Research demonstrates that lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, as well as social, mental and intellectual engagement are important influencers on the aging brain. The Beautiful Minds campaign shines a light on people who are keeping their minds beautiful, and raises awareness of the actions others can take to better maintain their brain health," said Dr. Majid Fotuhi, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, Neurology Institute for Brain Health and Fitness, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and consultant to life'sDHA. Entries may be submitted by anyone 55 and over, or by anyone who knows someone 55 and over, who has done extraordinarily beautiful things with his or her mind in the second stage of life. Each nomination must be accompanied by either an essay (500 words or less) or a video (three minutes or less) describing what makes the candidate an exemplary beautiful mind. Examples include committing to a healthy lifestyle; maintaining a healthy diet; engaging in intellectual or brain power activities on a daily basis; taking measures to overcome serious illness through mind, body, spirit and nutrition; participating in high-impact physical activities such as running marathons; having a strong commitment to social well-being, or having volunteered to help or educate others. Complete rules, regulations and an entry form are available on www.beautiful-minds.com. All entries must be received by May 13, 2011. Entries can be submitted via the following:
Online: Complete the entry form and provide a written essay (or a video essay) and submit it with a photo of the candidate being nominated. www.beautiful-minds.com
Fax: Download and complete the PDF entry form located online at www.beautiful-minds.com . Fax the completed form, a written essay and a photo of the candidate (minimum size 4 x 6) to (202) 895-9483 to the attention of Liz Anderson Simmons.
Mail: Send the completed entry form, along with a written essay and a non-returnable photo to Liz Anderson Simmons, National Center for Creative Aging, 4125 Albemarle Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20016-2105.