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Student-Led Global BrainHealth and Wellness Initiative Launches, Powered by Center for BrainHealth

Students wearing backpacks walking away from the camera.

Center for BrainHealth

UT Dallas group quickly gains traction with timely, relevant message about brain health. Under the auspices of Center for BrainHealth, an innovative student-led organization has launched to promote a proactive and preventive approach to brain health. The Global BrainHealth and Wellness Initiative will serve as a peer-to-peer catalyst for students to adopt habits now that will positively affect their brain’s health and performance tomorrow. Believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., this organization was established by three undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Dallas.
From Top to Bottom:
  • Sheza Habib, a Collegium V Honors Neuroscience and Psychology double major and an Academic Excellence (AES) scholar
  • Billal Homayoun, a Collegium V Honors Biology and Neuroscience double major and an AES scholar
  • Dipika Bhatia, a Collegium V Honors Healthcare Studies major and an AES scholar.
The organizers envision a future where young people take action early in their lives to focus on brain-healthy lifestyle factors and daily habits. Tapping into the leading-edge brain science at the university’s Center for BrainHealth, the organization champions evidence-backed strategies that take advantage of the brain’s incredible capacity to get stronger and work more effectively at any age. “Students are in the business of learning, so this is the ideal time for us to learn how to improve the way we use our brains,” said Ms. Habib. “Our message is that the habits we establish now can directly impact our brain’s health and performance during our whole lives; we should be intentional about setting ourselves up for a brain-healthier future.” “Everyone should care about brain health – not just science majors,” underscored Ms. Bhatia. “At some point, every student experiences stress, worry, information overload, not to mention the opportunity to create new ideas and take their knowledge further. Brain health is about all of these things.” “We have been gratified and inspired by the incredible response we have received,” added Mr. Homayoun. “What started as an initiative to help our fellow students at UT Dallas has grown to include members from across the U.S. and Canada in just two weeks.” Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, chief director at Center for BrainHealth and Dee Wyly Distinguished University Professor, serves as faculty sponsor for the group. She is joined by Dr. Lori Cook (director of clinical research and adjunct assistant professor at the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences) and Dr. Julie Fratantoni (research scientist and head of operations for The BrainHealth Project). “The younger generation has a unique opportunity to break the cycle of stigma that has been attached to the brain for too long,” said Dr. Chapman. “Who better than students to lead the way for other students?” The organization will connect members with speakers, practical insights and information, and cutting-edge research for those who want to take a deeper dive. Students of all ages are invited to find out more and join here. About Center for BrainHealthCenter 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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