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First Brain Health lndex Ranks America’s “Brain Smarts” Based on 21 Indicators: D.C. Ranks No. 1

life’sDHA Index of Brain HealthSM Asks and Answers: Does Your State Have the Healthiest Brains?

COLUMBIA, Md., June 23, 2009 – The first comprehensive state-by-state measure of the nation’s brain health provides new insights into just how “brain smart” Americans are and points to simple actions they can take to boost brain health and lead healthier lives. The life’sDHA Index of Brain HealthSM (www.AmericasBrainHealth.com) evaluated the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on 21 brain health indicators in the areas of diet, physical health, mental health and social well-being.

According to the life’sDHA Index of Brain Health (Index), the top 10 geographies in the nation with the highest brain health ranking, listed from No. 1, are the District of Columbia, Maryland, Washington state, Vermont, Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire. The two states to receive the lowest brain health ranking are Alabama and Louisiana.

“Americans can pay more attention to their mental muscles and really support long term brain health,” according to Dr. Michael Roizen, leading medical expert, author and advisor to the Index. “While many understand what to do to be heart-healthy, they are not as familiar with the steps to keep their brains smart, such as feeding it good fats like DHA omega-3, and staying physically, socially and mentally active.”

About The Index

The life’sDHA Index of Brain HealthSM is the first comprehensive assessment of the nation’s brain health on a state-by-state basis. We asked and answered the question, “Does your state have the healthiest brains?” The life’sDHA Index of Brain Health evaluated the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on 21 brain health indicators in four key areas: diet, physical health, mental health and social well-being. Learn More >>

Meet Dr. Roizen

Dr. RoizenAs medical advisor to the life’sDHA Index of Brain HealthSM, Dr. Michael Roizen helped design the index metrics, providing medical expertise, and shaping the direction of the index.

Named to “Best Doctors in America” or its successor publication, “America’s Top Doctors,” every year since 1989, Dr. Michael Roizen is one of the most respected and compelling medical experts in the world today. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Dr. Roizen is an internal medicine physician and anesthesiologist certified by both the American Boards of Internal Medicine and of Anesthesiology. 


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