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Dear students,
This Wednesday, November 5, we’ll be holding the second webinar of our Brain Fitness Series from 1:00 to 2:30 PM.
Here is the Zoom link: [https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/85666371572?pwd=r6suY9H0tzJembeGVhazsEP2rU22C1.1]
Meeting ID: 856 6637 1572
Passcode: 12345
We hope you can join us for this informative and engaging session!
Last Week: Navigating Grief – Harnessing Brain Resilience While Coping with Loss
Grief is a natural emotional and physical response to losing someone or something meaningful. It’s not a mental illness but a process of adapting to change. People experience grief in different ways and intensities, ranging from acute grief (the early, intense stage) to prolonged grief (which lasts over a year and disrupts daily life). Other forms include anticipatory grief (before a loss), disenfranchised grief (unrecognized by others), and collective grief (shared by communities after tragedies).
Grief affects the body and mind—causing sadness, anger, confusion, fatigue, and withdrawal. In the brain, it disrupts emotional regulation (amygdala), memory (hippocampus), and decision-making (prefrontal cortex). These changes explain why grief can feel overwhelming and mentally foggy, and why prolonged grief may lead to anxiety, depression, or poor judgment.
Healing requires time, compassion, and active coping. Support from therapists and grief groups provides understanding and guidance. Mindfulness and exercise help regulate emotions and reduce stress, while self-compassion allows space to process pain without guilt. Here are some helpful resources for healing from grief:
· APA: https://www.apa.org/topics/grief
· Alzheimer's & Dementia Resources | Alzheimer's Association
· AARP: Dealing With Grief, Loss and End of Life Planning
This week: Parkinson’s Disease – Early Signs, Brain Changes & Treatment
This week focuses on Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive brain disorder affecting about 10 million people worldwide. While commonly linked to motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness, early signs—such as mood, sleep, and smell changes—often appear years before diagnosis. Recognizing these early symptoms is key to timely care and quality of life. The paper covers PD’s early symptoms, brain changes, treatments, and lifestyle approaches, offering a comprehensive understanding of the disease and ways to maintain brain and overall health.
Topics Zoom Sessions
Monday, 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Erika Peralta, Instructor)
Tuesday, 10-12 PM (Minoo Pakgohar, Instructor)
Wednesday 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Minoo Pakgohar, Instructor)
Wednesday 6:30 – 8: 30 PM (Charisse Winston, Instructor)
Thursday 10 - 12:00 PM (Charisse Winston, Instructor)
Thursday 1:00 - 3:00 PM (Sharon Gregory, Instructor)
Friday 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Erika Peralta, Instructor)
Special topics (separate registration)
Brain Fitness Lab: Cognitive Wellness Through Hands-On Exercises and Living Stories, Monday 10:00 – 12:00 PM (Yael Lorberfeld, Instructor)
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: Insights and Strategies for Care and Support, Tuesday 1:00 – 3:00 PM (Minoo Pakgohar, instructor)
Diverse Approaches to Brain Health, Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Mindy Sloan, Instructor)
Remember, as a Brain Fitness student you are welcome to attend any of the Brain Fitness classes, even more than one a week.
Quick Links (all blue colored & underlined words are live 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
Enjoy a brain-healthy week! We look forward to seeing you in next week.
Mindy, Yael, Sharon, Erica, Charisse, Desiree & Minoo
Mindy Jo Sloan, Ph.D.
msloan@sdccd.edu
Yael Lorberfeld. MA
Yloberfeld@sdccd.edu
Sharon Gregory
sgregory001@sdccd.edu
Erica Peralta, MS
eperalta@sdccd.edu
Charisse Winston, Ph.D.
Desirree Harguess, DPT
Minoo Pakgohar, Ph.D.
mpakgohar@sdccd.edu
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