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Kathryn (Kim) Hiett Jordan Supports Brain Performance Across the Lifespan

Center for BrainHealth

Her fascination with the brain was sparked during childhood. A hypnotist hired to entertain at a seventh- grade birthday party sparked her fascination with the brain and the idea of mind over matter. This playful initiation has evolved into a lifelong interest in unlocking the power of the mind. During the past eight years, Ms. Jordan has given over $1 million to fund research and training at the center – in addition to helping friends diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “I’ve encouraged them to go to the Center for assistance,” said Ms. Jordan, referring to the Center’s research initiatives and the Discovery Group, a Center for BrainHealth program that helps individuals in the early stages of dementia develop an action plan after receiving a diagnosis. I feel the brain has more to do with our lives than we understand,” explained Kim Hiett Jordan, Dallas philanthropist and long-standing Center for BrainHealth supporter. “The brain has skills that are still unknown to us.” Ms. Jordan is a proponent of creative and intellectual exchange, faithfully supporting the arts and education. Her deep commitment to empowering the community and its members is evident; for example, she has endowed the nation’s largest annual prize that supports emerging leaders in the humanities. At the Brain Performance Institute, her generosity has helped hundreds of military veterans and active-duty service members participate in the Center’s science-based cognitive training – at no cost to them. “I feel for those with invisible wounds of war,” said Ms. Jordan. “I was oored when I learned about the suicide rate of our warriors. I wish everybody understood what our warriors go through.” Thanks to her generosity and the philanthropic support of many other individuals and foundations, more than 3,100 veterans, military spouses and first responders have learned new tactics to better manage tasks, focus their attention and think creatively – a practice that has been shown to help decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. CONTACT Stephanie Hoefken 972.883.3221 stephanie.hoefken@utdallas.eduABOUT 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 cognition and emotion 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 unlock their brain potential. Translational innovations build on Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART™), a proprietary methodology developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers and other teams over three decades.

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Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD

Chief Director Dee Wyly Distinguished Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

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