Brain Exercise Initiative, The

Service & Changemaking. The Brain Exercise Initiative is a student-run, nonprofit organization that uses math, reading, and writing to support cognitive development in older adults. Developed by Japanese doctor Ryuta Kawashima, this approach is now used in 1,400 care homes with 15,000 patients across Japan and has been highly successful. When done for just 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week, improvements have been observed in Alzheimer’s patients. Many individuals showed progress in communication and behavior; some went from being bedridden to sitting in a chair or walking; and most began to feel happier.