Week 5: September/21

Hello Everyone, 

Welcome to week 5: Restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea

This week, we will explore sleep and healthy aging, focusing on how quality sleep supports memory, attention, emotional well-being, physical recovery, and overall health. We will examine two common sleep disorders in older adults: restless legs syndrome (RLS) and sleep apnea. We’ll look at their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and potential effects on cognitive function and daily independence. Most importantly, we will consider why ongoing sleep problems should not simply be viewed as a normal part of aging and how appropriate evaluation and treatment can support healthier aging and quality of life.

Last Week: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, and Other Trauma Therapies

Last week, we explored how trauma can affect the brain and body’s responses to stress, memory, emotion, attention, and perceived danger. We discussed how the brain’s threat, memory, salience, and executive-control systems work together and how trauma can influence the way a person interprets and responds to experiences. We also focused on neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and develop new patterns through learning and experience. This helped us understand that trauma-related responses are not necessarily permanent or fixed.

We examined several approaches to supporting recovery, including EMDR, mindfulness, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. Each approach works from a different perspective, such as processing difficult memories, increasing present-moment awareness, improving physiological self-regulation, or practicing regulation of brain activity. Finally, we emphasized the importance of safety, individualized care, pacing, supportive relationships, and healthy routines. Most importantly, we learned that recovery is not about erasing the past. It is about building safety, resilience, regulation, and greater choice in the present.

What’s Waiting for You on Canvas?

🧠 Lesson Materials
Explore this week’s content through readings, visuals, infographics, and videos.

✏️ Quizzes
Use the quizzes to review key concepts and check your understanding.

💬 Discussion Activities
Share your ideas, reflect on the material, and learn from your classmates’ perspectives.

🎥 Class Recordings
Recordings will be available soon for additional review.

 📖 Extra Resources
For those who want to go deeper, you’ll find additional readings and full-length articles.

A Quick Tip for the Week 🌟

There’s no need to complete everything in one sitting. Start by reviewing the module, identify what you need to complete, and work through the materials at a pace that works for you.

Make Canvas part of your weekly routine, stay curious, and enjoy this week’s learning journey!

Accessing Canvas

You can access Canvas through the Canvas app on your phone or through the Canvas website. To log in, use your SDCCD student email and password, then select Fall 2026 HEAL 540 from your courses.

📱 Want to use Canvas on your phone? Download the Canvas app from the App Store or Google Play. Search for “Canvas by Instructure,” select SDCCD as your school, and log in using your SDCCD student email and portal password.

If you haven’t checked Canvas yet, now is a great time to log in and explore. Everything you need for Week 4 is there! 😊

🗓️ Class Schedule & Meeting Times for Brain Fitness Topics (HEAL 540):

You are welcome to join whichever class time fits your schedule best. Zoom links are hyperlinked under the Professor's name. 

§   🗓 Tuesday | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 CRN 45950 – Minoo Pakgohar

§   🗓 Monday | 2:30–4:30 PM
📍 CRN 45956 – Erika Peralta

§   🗓 Wednesday | 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 CRN 45960 – Charisse Winston

§   🗓 Thursday | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 CRN 45961 – Charisse Winston

§   🗓 Thursday | 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 CRN 45948 – Sharon Gregory

§   🗓 Friday | 2:30–4:30 PM
📍 CRN 45957 – Erika Peralta

Quick Links   

§   Course website:  bfclass.com

§   BrainHQ site:  https://v4.brainhq.com/

§   Student site with schedule and more:  sdcestudent55.com

§   Site to enroll in classes:  myportal.sdccd.edu

§   Official SDCCE site:  sdcce.edu

We look forward to learning, exploring, and keeping our brains active together!

Your Emeritus Brain Fitness Faculty 

Sharon, Erika, Charisse & Minoo

Sharon Gregory 

sgregory001@sdccd.edu 

Erika Peralta, MS

eperalta@sdccd.edu

Charisse Winston, Ph.D.

cwinston@sdccd.edu

Minoo Pakgohar, Ph.D. 

mpakgohar@sdccd.edu