LiveWell Opens World-Class Brain Health Clinic
- Philip Thibodeau
- 16 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The experience of aging motivates many people to pay closer attention to their body's health. Some lift weights to keep their muscles toned, while others take up jogging or join a dance class to work on their cardio. But what would a work out program designed specifically for the brain look like? One answer can be found at a facility in Southington – the first in the country to offer a program of this kind.
On January 29, over a hundred people gathered at the LiveWell main building on 1261 South Main Street to celebrate the launch of the Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic. The clinic’s approach is based on research conducted by experts in Finland who were trying to identify interventions that could benefit elderly individuals with an increased risk of dementia.
The approach's name, FINGER, is a contraction of FIN-nish and GER-iatric. But the term also refers to the program’s five ‘fingers’ or areas of focus: diet, exercise, cognitive training, social activity, and cardiovascular health. After two years, participants in the Finnish program experienced dramatic benefits in memory, motor skills, executive function, and general quality of life when compared to a control group.
The clinic in Southington is the fruit of a collaboration between LiveWell and the Yale School of Nursing. It is underwritten by a grant from the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Trust, which is managed by the Main Street Community Foundation. Heid Gil, LiveWell's Strategy Officer, says that the funding will make it possible for people to access the clinic for free. She also noted that this is pilot program where research is being applied for the first time: "We are working to develop an implementation model here, because up to now it’s only been a research study. Now we are transferring this into a practice.”
One of the clinic leaders is Jenn Terray, RN Health Coach of LiveWell. She described how the process works once an initial visit is scheduled:
“You come in and there is a vetting process, then you learn about your precise risks from an APRN." (The APRN in question is Craig Manbauman from the Yale School of Nursing.) “They do a series of screening tools to identify your risk. It takes about 90 minutes; I tell people to budget two hours just to be safe.”
The room where the consultation takes place is a comfortable space, more lounge than examination office:
“After that," she continued, "you take that very precise information [from the interview] and connect it to something specific to do. You might identify some things that you are already doing well, and then you make a small list of opportunities - areas where you can improve.”
“To be eligible you don’t need much. It’s a free clinic opportunity for anyone who wants to come in. It’s for you if you’re interested in your brain health and you want to know what your risks are, if you are working already with a primary care physician, and if you can consent to say this is something you want to do.”
“The follow up is that you get a phone call from the APRN at 14 days, 1 month, and 2 months, and you come back in to do a little bit more measuring, so you can see over time what has changed."
“You are also invited to have a coaching conversation with me to help you focus on the immediate steps you can take – some at LiveWall, or at your own gym, or at home.”
LiveWell COO Maley Hunt stressed that the primary aim of the program is not to diagnose dementia. Rather, she said, “It is about assessing people’s risk for dementia, and identifying what the risk factors are that you can do something about.”
Some of the biggest modifiable risk factors for dementia are high LDL cholesterol, social isolation, and, somewhat surprisingly, hearing loss - the loss of speech inputs seems to lead to a loss of cognitive ability. Thus, getting fitted for hearing aids can in some cases serve to stave off dementia. Here Terray gestures to a chart showing all the modifiable contributing factors:
The following press release from LiveWell gives more details on the launch event and the program:
LiveWell Press Release
Over 120 Gather to Mark Brain Health Day and Historic Launch of the Nation’s First Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic, January 29, 2026
More than 120 community members, state and local leaders, researchers, clinicians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience gathered on January 29 at the LiveWell Resilient Living Center to celebrate Brain Health & Prevention Day in Connecticut and the official launch of the first Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic in the United States, modeled on the globally recognized FINGER approach.
Hosted by LiveWell in partnership with the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale Center for Aging Well, the event marked a major milestone in Connecticut’s—and the nation’s—commitment to brain health, dementia prevention, and inclusive, community-driven models of care that span the lifespan.
The celebration included two formal proclamations declaring January 29 as Brain Health & Prevention Day, delivered by Southington Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinski and State Senator Robert Sampson, with recognition from State Representatives Jane Garibay and Mitch Bolinski, chairs of Connecticut’s Aging Services Committee.
Lived Experience at the Center
A defining highlight of the event was the powerful opening delivered by Empowering Partnerships Network (EPN) Ambassadors Betsy Mintz and Chris Burnett, whose stories grounded the science of prevention in lived experience, dignity, and hope.
Betsy Mintz, diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment at a young age and now a member of the LiveWell team, shared how learning about brain health and prevention transformed her understanding of what was possible after diagnosis.
“When I first learned about brain health and prevention, it changed how I saw my future,” Mintz shared. “Prevention gave me back a sense of agency, hope, and purpose—and it also gave my children and family tools to support brain health together.”
Chris Burnett, living with Alzheimer’s disease, reflected on how advances in prevention science, combined with lifestyle changes, social connection, and leadership opportunities, have allowed her to continue living a life filled with meaning and joy.
“Welcome to a new frontier,” Burnett told the audience. “Brain health must be a hopeful, everyday conversation, at every age.”
A Global Message of Hope, Local Action
Internationally renowned dementia researcher Dr. Miia Kivipelto, global leader of the FINGER model and a key contributor to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, delivered a keynote centered on hope, action, and shared responsibility.
Dr. Kivipelto highlighted decades of research demonstrating that addressing modifiable risk factors—including cardiovascular health, physical activity, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, sleep, stress management, and social connection—can meaningfully reduce dementia risk and improve quality of life. She emphasized the significance of launching the first U.S. FINGER Clinic at LiveWell as a scalable, community-embedded model and invited participants to consider their personal and collective role in advancing brain health.
What to Expect from the Clinic Experience
The newly launched Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic is guided by Craig Manbauman, APRN of Yale School of Nursing and Jenn Terray, RN Health Coach of LiveWell and was co-designed with people with lived experience through two in-depth Appreciative Inquiry workshops.
Guided by those workshops, the Clinic experience emphasizes empowerment, education, and partnership—not diagnosis. Participants can expect:
A welcoming APRN visit focused on understanding personal health history, strengths, goals, and modifiable “Hope” (risk) factors
A coaching relationship that supports behavior change, motivation, and sustained engagement over time
Respectful information-sharing, including how health data is gathered, discussed, and shared with primary care providers
Clear, digestible next steps, including a personalized Brain Health Action Plan
Options for tracking progress that feel meaningful and manageable
Ongoing learning and community education, reinforcing that brain health is a lifelong journey supported by connection and purpose
This co-designed approach ensures the Clinic reflects what matters most to participants: dignity, clarity, motivation, and real-world applicability.
From Science to Experience: A Call to Action
Following the main program, guests moved throughout the Resilient Living Center to engage in 10 interactive Brain Health Experience Stations, bringing prevention science to life. Stations focused on vascular health, fitness, cognitive stimulation, creative arts, stress management and sleep, nutrition, purpose, peer connection, and the 14 modifiable risk factors identified by the Lancet Commission.
Each participant concluded their journey at the “Call to Action” station, where they reflected on what they learned and left with a personal commitment to support their own brain health—or that of their family and community.
The evening concluded with music, food, and conversation, reinforcing one of the event’s central messages: social connection is essential to brain health at every age.
For more information about LiveWell, Dementia Positive Southington, or the Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic, visit www.livewell.org.
