Take Advantage of SummaCare's Scientifically Proven Brain Training Benefit

Posted September 29, 2022 by Henry W. Mahncke, Ph.D., CEO of Posit Science.

Brain health is important for everyone because our brain is at the center of everything we think, say and do. That’s why keeping our brain in optimal health is key to living a full, engaging and independent life.

As we age — even past mid-20s! — our brain starts to develop a kind of static that can make it difficult to focus and remember things. Fortunately, scientists now know what we can do to harness our brain’s unique power to adapt and change itself for the better as we age. Physical activity, a brain-healthy diet, getting good sleep, staying socially connected, and reducing stress all go a long way toward keeping your brain healthy. However, specifically your brain in the right way has been shown to offer important, additional benefits.

That’s why SummaCare offers BrainHQ as an added benefit to all 2022 SummaCare Medicare Advantage plan members at no extra cost. BrainHQ is a scientifically proven brain-training program that can help you think faster, focus better and remember more.

Think of it as your personal gym, where you exercise your memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence and navigation, instead of your abs, delts and quads. Just as our bodies require care and exercise over the course of life, so do our brains — especially as we age. BrainHQ provides the exercise your brain needs to be at its sharpest.

Each BrainHQ exercise is based on the science of brain plasticity — the ability of the brain to change itself. These online exercises sharpen your brain’s core cognitive skills, including: memory, attention and speed.

When you join, BrainHQ offers you:

• Dozens of online brain exercises that are designed to improve memory, attention, brain speed, intelligence, navigation and communication.
• Exercises that adapt to your unique brain to quickly find the optimum challenge for you — not too hard and not too easy — just right for improving your brain performance.
• A wellness activity that fits into your life. Each level takes less than 5 minutes and you can do it in your own home using your own computer, tablet or phone (supports Windows and Mac, and iOS and Android).
• A wealth of information resources, including a monthly brain health newsletter and brain health webinars
• An online class, if you’d like to learn about the brain and do your brain training in a helpful and supportive group.
• Customer support based in the United States with friendly, helpful people who can get you started and encourage you to keep going.

The goal is to train about 90 minutes each week. You can choose to have BrainHQ tell you exactly which exercises to do, and in which order. The personalized trainer feature, designed by scientists, continually measures your performance and serves up the exercises that are right for you.

Or if you prefer, you can design your own program, choosing exercises and workouts that meet your personal interests, mood and schedule.

Does BrainHQ really work?

SummaCare carefully reviews the scientific basis for Medicare Advantage services, and BrainHQ makes the grade.

BrainHQ exercises are not just “brain games,” but instead are built on serious science. BrainHQ was designed by the internationally recognized scientist who discovered brain plasticity, Dr. Michael Merzenich. The benefits of BrainHQ have been proven in more than 100 scientific publications and include:

• Better cognitive function: memory, attention, speed
• Better everyday activities: driving, balance, hearing in noisy environments, and everyday cognition
• Better quality of life: mood, confidence, independent living skills

The World Health Organization recommends cognitive training for older adults “to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and/or dementia.” Now with BrainHQ as part of your SummaCare Medicare Advantage program, you can put this proven science to work for you.

BrainHQ is available in all SummaCare Medicare Advantage plans with no copayment — there is no additional cost to use the program. You can register for BrainHQ at summacare.com/brainhq or by calling 877.848.2505.

SummaCare is an HMO and HMO-POS plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in SummaCare depends on contract renewal.

H3660_22_371_M Accepted 09292022