Isaac Health, a virtual memory clinic, unveiled a new eight-week virtual group series on Wednesday to reduce the risk of dementia.
The New York City-based startup works with healthcare organizations to provide screening, assessment, treatment and care management for people living with dementia. It’s in network with Medicare and major insurers across all 50 states, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Humana.
The new program — called the Lifestyle Medicine and Better Brain Health program — is intended for those proactively seeking to reduce dementia risk or slow cognitive decline, particularly those prone to dementia and their caregivers.
The weekly sessions are led by clinicians and are available in individual, couple or family formats. They’re focused on a variety of strategies for brain health, including sleep, nutrition, physical activity, cognitive engagement, vascular risk factor reduction and stress management. The program can be covered by most insurers but depends on individual plan benefits.
“Growing clinical research shows lifestyle interventions, particularly as part of a structured program, can meaningfully support cognitive function,” Dr. Joel Salinas, co-founder and chief medical officer at Isaac Health, told MedCity News. “Isaac Health’s own patients were asking for more proactive, medically grounded guidance. Since brain disease-related changes can begin decades before symptoms appear, there’s a critical intervention window the current standard of care isn’t addressing.”
The announcement comes as the number of brain health conditions has increased by 65% over the past 30 years. Studies show that a lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol intake, smoking and other factors can increase the risk of dementia. Research also shows that amyloid buildup, a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease, begins in the brain many years before dementia symptoms appear, showing the importance of intervening early.
“Patients and families often ask what changes they can make to their lifestyle, right now, to support brain health — and this program was built to answer that question,” said Dr. Nadir Bilici, board-certified neurologist and lifestyle medicine physician at Isaac Health, in a statement. “Sleep, movement, nutrition, cognitive engagement, and social connection all play a meaningful role in how we age cognitively, and we have the evidence to act on that. This program gives patients and families a practical, evidence-based path to make sustainable changes in a supportive group environment where they can feel empowered and inspired to take meaningful steps for their brain health.”
In launching the new program, Isaac Health ultimately hopes to reach patients earlier, close the gap in proactive brain health care and help patients stay independent for as long as possible, Salinas said.
Other brain health companies include Neurotrack and Linus Health.
Photo: Jorg Greuel, Getty Images
