About 11% of the U.S. older adult population is at risk for or suffers from subjective cognitive decline. Intellectual challenge and social interaction are important for brain health (University of Illinois Extension).

Wits Workout, developed by the University of Illinois Extension is a holistic, multi-modal workshop series that offers adults ages 50 and older facilitated, interactive dialogue and activities about behaviors that promote brain health.

A 6-week series of Wits Workout was offered by the Nelson County Cooperative Extension Service to 15 adult participants ages 50 and over. During the hour and a half sessions participants learned about a brain-health topic (examples: food and nutrition, sleep, physical activity, social engagement, techniques for focus) and completed a number of challenging written and verbal puzzles.  The group also took part in nutrition education programs that allowed them to sample recipes that could support healthy brain function

 An evaluation completed during the final session indicated:

• 100% of participants gained friendships.
• 100% gained ideas they could try.
• 83% gained knowledge that they shared with others. 
• 83% Pay closer attention and stay focused to remember things.  
• 83% have tried to increase their social contact and be more intentional about socializing with others.

After one session, a participant shared that she valued the program because she was able to make friends with new people.  She noted that she was able to make friends with people from different backgrounds as her and was able to have constructive conversation with participants who had different political opinions.  She was able to find common ground through the program and plans to continue the friendship outside of the program.  

Participants noted that they looked forward to the next session and learned not to be so hard on themselves and even enjoyed laughing with others.