Adele Ostfield schedules brain health checkups the same way she schedules routine medical and dental appointments.
A retired business professional and passionate advocate for positive aging, Adele believes looking after one’s brain health is just as important as looking after one’s physical health.
“You can’t stop getting older – indeed, you don’t want to stop getting older – but you have some control over how you get older,” says Adele.
To take that control, she regularly completes Baycrest’s scientifically validated Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment, a free online tool that provides personalized insights and practical next steps, helping people make informed decisions about their cognitive health.
Understand your brain health
During World Alzheimer’s Month this September, Baycrest is encouraging people to take action for their brain health by learning more about cognition and the steps that can support healthy aging.
Forgetting a name or misplacing keys may be a normal part of aging, while other changes warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider. It can be difficult to know when we should be concerned.
Yet cognitive health is not routinely monitored in the same way as many other aspects of our health. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, just 16 per cent of older adults receive regular cognitive assessments during routine health checkups.
The Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment can be completed privately online in approximately 20 to 30 minutes, without an appointment, giving adults an accessible way to learn more about their memory and other aspects of cognition. Once finished, users receive a personalized score and brain health report, which can help them decide whether to discuss memory or thinking concerns with a healthcare provider.
“In an increasingly busy world, having agency over when and where to take the assessment is a real benefit,” says Adele.
Turn knowledge into action
Understanding your cognitive health is a start. Focusing on lifestyle factors that research shows can influence dementia risk, such as physical activity, sleep, nutrition and social engagement, offers additional opportunities to take action to support brain health.
“With the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment, we want people to feel empowered to be proactive about their brain health, to understand where they are today and know what they can do to support their health as they age,” says Dr. Larissa McKetton, Director of Scientific and Clinical Development, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE). “By turning research into accessible tools and actionable knowledge, BARE is working towards our vision of a world where every older person can live with purpose, fulfillment and dignity.”
“Your brain health is important: it dictates how you will live your life as you grow older,” Adele says. “Take control. Take the Brain Health Assessment and act on the results.”
Take the free Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment and learn more about your brain health at cogniciti.com.
World Alzheimer’s Month: September, 2026
Take Action for Your Brain Health – This World Alzheimer’s Month, explore practical ways to understand, protect and support your brain health through expert advice, free tools and trusted resources from Baycrest.