When students at Homestead High School launched the Project Preserve from the long run club of the long run managing directors of their school last August last August, they never expected to take care of state representatives or say goodbye to federal laws.
Under the direction of Arhan Chakravarthy and Samik Thakur, Project Preserve was created to commit the consequences of dementia of their community and to advertise a wise change.
The initiative began with a straightforward commentary: Despite the hundreds of thousands of Americans, dementia often stays within the shade. Through interviews with over 80 families affected by Alzheimer's disease, the scholars discovered a standard need for higher support systems, increased research financing and more awareness of the community.
Together with the Alzheimer Association, Project transformed these stories into the advocacy group for the Napa Reauthorization Act (HR 619) and the Alzheimer's Act on the accountability and investment (HR 620). Her efforts contributed to the successful adoption of each laws and won the continued federal financing for Alzheimer's research and care programs.
“We wanted to have a real, permanent influence and not just raise awareness,” says Chakravarthy. “The advocacy of these congress laws ensured that dementia research and care would continue to receive the attention and financing that they deserve.”
In this sense they created “The spirit is important: understand dementia“A podcast that is devoted to the publicity of the public about cognitive health and dementia care. With experts such as Vanessa Souza from Alzheimer's Association and Robin Shepherd from Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation, the podcast dealt with important topics such as Lewy Body Demenzforschung and improvements in patient care.
They also built Brain -BoggleAn interactive platform where people can perform their cognitive skills through games and pursue their progress.
The podcast reached over 1,200 listeners, and Brain Boggle won over 500 clear visitors.
In addition, the team combined their classmates with the opportunity to volunteer at Crescent Oaks Memory Care in Sunnyvale, where the students hired seniors for memory games and social activities. The program has reached over 45 senior residents, whereby the feedback indicates that many felt more mentally committed and socially connected after participating.
In cooperation with Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation (SCBF), the students were also hosting Dr. Joseph Winer, a sleep researcher at Stanford University, for an event as a guest speaker. Dwiner spoke to almost 60 community members and emphasized the role of sleep management in preventing neurodegenerative diseases and emphasized the connection between sleep patterns, cognitive function and long-term health of the brain.
“Project Preserve has shown extraordinary foresight and commitment to clarifying the scholars about brain health and dementia,” said Robin Shepherd, co -founder of SCBF. “Arhan and Samik are the researchers and health attempts of tomorrow, which is able to undoubtedly make essential contributions to healthy living and sturdiness.”
Her efforts were recognized by the US Senator Adam Schiff, the Member of the congress Ro Khanna and the state Sens. Josh Becker, Dave Cortese and Aisha Wahab and the meeting member Patrick Ahrens. The mayor of Cupertino, Liang-Fang Chao, and the mayor of Sunnyvale, Larry Klein, also recognized Chakravarthy and Thakur's work in community education and senior citizens' engagement.
While these awards are encouraging, the students say that they were most rewarding the most direct effects on families.
“People often ask us why students would tackle such a posh problem with health care,” said Thakur. “And the easy answer is how our population ages that dementia will touch more families, including our own, and we cannot afford to attend.”
Originally published:
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