MOUNT MORRIS, Ill. - Our brains control essential executive functions, such as speaking, thinking, learning, making sound decisions, and remembering. In addition to physical exercise, getting at least seven to eight hours of quality sleep and eating a heart-healthy diet improves brain fitness for maintaining long-term cognitive health in older adults.
University of Illinois Extension developed Wits Workout based on brain health and aging research. “Just like muscles, our brains need exercise to maintain flexibility and strength,” says Wits Workout's co-author, Chelsey Byers. “Challenging ourselves with new and diverse activities promotes cognitive health.” Join others to challenge your brain and learn more about keeping your brain healthy.
The free, in-person Wits Workout sessions will be offered at the Mt. Morris Senior and Community Center, 9 E. Front St. on Thursdays, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am starting March 13, and will continue for 12 consecutive weeks. Participants will try a variety of fun and interactive intellectual challenges that encourage the use of different cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, and reasoning. In addition to intellectual challenges, each session features brain health education and discussion of strategies, tips and techniques, providing an opportunity for participants to connect and socialize with one another.
Register for the series by calling the Mt. Morris Senior and Community Center at 815-734-6335 or online at go.illinois.edu/wits25.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, contact Extension Program Coordinator Jan Saglier at 815-544-3710. We strongly encourage early requests so we can meet your needs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.