As we live longer, many diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease, can progressively destroy brain cells, impacting behavior and cognition, and our ability to live safely and independently.

Approximately one in three cases of dementia is preventable. People living with dementia can stay healthy longer through:

  • Stress management to improve health span
  • Changes is lifestyle and diet
  • Review and appropriate modification of medications
  • Identification and treatment of sleep and mood disorders
  • Family education and support

Virginia Mason’s Center for Healthy Aging team, a part of the Neuroscience Institute, offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation, prevention and treatment of cognitive challenges. Experts in neurology, social work, nursing, neuropsychology, radiology, and physical medicine work together to provide the latest prevention, risk reduction, and treatment approaches personalized to each patient and their family. The goal of the Center for Healthy Aging is to improve the health and well-being of patients with cognitive challenges, and their families, by leveraging multidisciplinary, preventive and innovative care, along the cognitive care continuum.

Caregiver and patient education, including lifestyle and mindset medicine, is especially critical for the continued health and well-being of these patients. Added education also benefits their family caregivers, and society more broadly, as dementia impacts health outcomes and metrics, and could lead to spiraling health care and societal costs. 

The Center for Healthy Aging offers shared medical appointments to target risk by addressing root causes of dementia, such as cerebrovascular disease. Creative aging programs are expanding in the region through community partnerships with Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Programs with Seattle’s Horizon House, for caregiver resilience and wellbeing courses, include Compassion Cultivation Training. Another service of the Center is DANCE FOR PD® that takes place at Virginia Mason Bainbridge Island Medical Center, and helps patients with balance and cognitive challenges. The Center supports Bailey-Boushay House team members caring for individuals with advanced dementia to improve care, safety, team member satisfaction and retention.

For more information, to make an appointment or learn about our shared medical appointments, please call (206) 341-0420.