How to Keep Your Brain Healthy
Information Session Presents Initial Findings, Exercises, and Practical Tips for Mental Fitness in Everyday Life
How can mental health be supported well into old age? And what approaches might be helpful in everyday life? These questions were the focus of an information session held as part of the “Cognitive Vitality” research project at Magdeburg University Hospital. The goal of the project is to examine how physical activity, mental exercises, and social factors might influence mental health and what measures can be derived from these findings. The active participation of those affected and interested parties is a central component of the project. Around 45 people learned about the initial interim results and shared their own experiences. These findings are relevant for patients and their families, as they highlight potential ways to support mental fitness in everyday life.
At the start of the event, Prof. Dr. Dr. Apfelbacher, Director of the Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research (ISMG), provided a clear overview of the importance of mental health from the perspective of health services research. He explained why participatory approaches—in which citizens are actively involved in research projects—are becoming increasingly important. This allows scientific questions to be developed in a practical manner, and the results are more likely to reach the people for whom they are relevant.
 und Gina Friedriszik (r.) im Austausch mit Teilnehmenden_Melitta Schubert.jpg "Wiss. MItarbeiter Dr. Robert Pohl (l.) und Gina Friedriszik (r.) im Austausch mit Teilnehmenden_Melitta Schubert")
Photo: Actively shaping research: As part of the “Cognitive Vitality” project, researchers Dr. Robert Pohl (left) and Gina Friedriszik (right) discuss practical approaches to improving mental health with participants. Their experiences are crucial for the research team’s ongoing work. Photographer: Melitta Schubert/UMMD
Initial indications of potential effects in everyday life
Neuroscientist Dr. Judith Wesenberg from the Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research Magdeburg presented initial preliminary results from an ongoing training study conducted as part of the Middle Elbe Platform, which is part of the “Cognitive Vitality” research project. So far, 40 people aged 60 and older have participated in mindfulness and balance exercises for eight weeks. Initial measurable training effects have emerged:
- Mindfulness training: Less rumination, reduced anxiety, and indications of greater self-compassion
- Balance training: Improved stability while walking and reduced feelings of dizziness
- Daily Life and Well-being: Slight improvements in sleep quality and general well-being
- Cognitive Performance: Initial indications of improved memory and executive functions
The researchers explicitly emphasize that these are preliminary results. The studies are not yet complete, and the effects must be confirmed in further analyses.
Citizen Advisory Board as a Bridge Between Research and Everyday Life
A central component of the event was the exchange between study participants, researchers, and the “Civic Stakeholder Board,” which has been supporting the project since 2025. The board’s goal is to ensure that training programs are not only theoretically effective but also practical and useful for older adults in their daily lives.
During the interactive segment, several participants from the Middle Elbe cohort shared their experiences with the exercises, helping to contextualize the findings. In small groups, participants discussed personal experiences, challenges, and supportive resources related to cognitive health.
“The direct dialogue with the participants was particularly valuable,” emphasized Gina Friedriszik and Dr. Robert Pohl from ISMG. “The numerous contributions and personal experiences provide important insights for our future work.”
The event clearly demonstrated the high level of interest in topics related to mental health and how important the ongoing dialogue between science and the public remains. Based on the findings to date, exercise and mindfulness programs could be further developed. However, whether and to what extent these measures are effective in the long term must still be examined through further research.
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The research is funded by the State of Saxony-Anhalt.