Dr. Kaur shares the origins of mindfulness and its growing role in therapy and medical practice. She explains the difference between a "doing" and "being" mindset, offers practical tips for incorporating mindfulness into daily life, and discusses its benefits for mental health and neurological conditions.

We also dive into the role of self-compassion in mindfulness and Dr. Kaur leads us through a simple mindfulness exercise. Whether you're just starting or looking to deepen your practice, this episode is packed with insights to help you age like a pro.

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Aging Like a Pro began as a healthy aging seminar series in partnership with community centers, libraries and senior organizations that focuses on mitigating social isolation and loneliness while offering information for healthy aging and brain health.

To request an Aging Like A Pro expert speaker for your event, or to find out about other topics, contact us at: ⁠https://aginglikeapro.org/contact-us/

Genetic factors cannot be controlled, but many environmental and lifestyle factors can be prevented or managed to reduce risk of memory decline and even Alzheimer’s disease.

We wish to thank the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, the Ansin Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation for their support.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Sonya S. Kaur, originally from Singapore, earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her internship in Clinical Psychology with a neuropsychology specialization at the Henry Ford Health System and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Currently an Instructor in the Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Miami, Dr. Kaur conducts neuropsychological assessments for various neurological and psychiatric conditions. She is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and explores therapeutic techniques to improve sleep in neurological disorders. Her research focuses on cognitive impairment in aging, particularly the impact of lifestyle interventions like exercise and sleep on neurodegenerative disease progression.

Learn more at: https://mbi-umiami.org/about-mbi/

Host Bio:

Rosa Hart, BSN, RN, SCRN combines her expertise in neuro care and patient advocacy with a passion for storytelling. She is the creator and host of the internationally award-winning podcast "Stronger After Stroke", developed for the Norton Neuroscience Institute. This resource has reached stroke survivors and their loved ones worldwide, providing hope and practical strategies for achieving their best quality of life after stroke. Consequently, she is dedicated to amplifying public health messaging through media.

Connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/

To request an Aging Like A Pro expert speaker for your event, or to find out about other topics, contact us at: https://aginglikeapro.org/contact-us/

Key Takeaways:

The Importance of Sleep Stages: Non-REM and REM sleep stages are essential for brain restoration, with Stage 3 non-REM facilitating brain "cleaning" and REM consolidating daily experiences into long-term knowledge.

Benefits of Quality Sleep: Proper sleep boosts mood, cognitive function, and protects against aging-related diseases like dementia, stroke, and heart conditions.

Sleep Hygiene Tips: Consistent wake-up times, sunlight exposure, physical activity, and a calming bedtime routine are crucial for optimizing sleep quality.

If you're looking to demystify sleep or improve your sleep habits, this episode is a must-listen. Prioritize your sleep—your brain will thank you!

Aging Like a Pro began as a healthy aging seminar series in partnership with community centers, libraries and senior organizations that focuses on mitigating social isolation and loneliness while offering information for healthy aging and brain health.

Genetic factors cannot be controlled, but many environmental and lifestyle factors can be prevented or managed to reduce risk of memory decline and even Alzheimer’s disease.

We wish to thank the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, the Ansin Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation for their support.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Christian Agudelo is a Miami native who pursued a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University before attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he engaged in research on Parkinson’s Disease and neuroimaging with NIMH R25 and T23 fellowships. He completed his neurology residency and sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he serves as a clinical instructor and Evelyn F. McKnight Neurocognitive Scholar. Dr. Agudelo focuses his research on the relationship between sleep and cognitive decline, aiming to identify sleep biomarkers for preclinical cognitive decline, particularly among historically understudied Black and Latino populations. As Director of Education for the McKnight Brain Institute, he develops programs for cognitive neurology trainees and educates the public on sleep and cognitive health. Dr. Agudelo is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, highlighting his commitment to clinical practice, research, and service.

Find out more at: https://mbi-umiami.org/about-mbi/

Host Bio:

Rosa Hart, BSN, RN, SCRN combines her expertise in neuro care and patient advocacy with a passion for storytelling. She is the creator and host of the internationally award-winning podcast "Stronger After Stroke", developed for the Norton Neuroscience Institute. This resource has reached stroke survivors and their loved ones worldwide, providing hope and practical strategies for achieving their best quality of life after stroke. Consequently, she is dedicated to amplifying public health messaging through media.

Connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/

Aging Like a Pro began as a healthy aging seminar series in partnership with community centers, libraries and senior organizations that focuses on mitigating social isolation and loneliness while offering information for healthy aging and brain health.

Genetic factors cannot be controlled, but many environmental and lifestyle factors can be prevented or managed to reduce risk of memory decline and even Alzheimer’s disease.

We wish to thank the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, the Ansin Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation for their support.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD, FANA is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she serves as Executive Vice Chair of Research and Faculty Affairs, Director of Clinical Translational Research, and Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute. A vascular neurologist and clinical researcher, she leads NIH-funded projects on stroke, age-related memory loss, cognitive decline, and brain health, collaborating nationally and internationally on major studies. With over 500 peer-reviewed publications, she is also an accomplished educator and mentor, directing research training programs such as StrokeNet and NeuroNEXT. Dr. Rundek has held leadership roles in organizations like the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission and the American Institute in Ultrasound in Medicine and has earned prestigious awards, including the AHA Mentor Award and the Women in Academic Medicine Career Achievement Award. She continues as a member of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine in Florida (ASEMFL) engaging in collaborations and discussions across the State of Florida about research and brain health challenges our society faces. She has recently been elected as the newest member of the Florida ADRC REC Steering Committee.

https://mbi-umiami.org/

Host Bio:

Rosa Hart, BSN, RN, SCRN combines her expertise in neuro care and patient advocacy with a passion for storytelling. She is the creator and host of the internationally award-winning podcast "Stronger After Stroke", developed for the Norton Neuroscience Institute. This resource has reached stroke survivors and their loved ones worldwide, providing hope and practical strategies for achieving their best quality of life after stroke. Consequently, she is dedicated to amplifying public health messaging through media.

Connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/

We wish to thank the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami, the Ansin Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation for their support.