The PLMC 5 Functions of Health: Cognitive Health
The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center (PLMC) takes a unique approach to health and wellness. Rather than seeing it as the absence of disease, we believe that health is a measure of function. By prioritizing overall wellness rather than singling out a symptom, we are able to treat patients as entire beings and emphasize a more holistic approach. Experiencing optimal health requires a strong foundation of the 5 Pillars of Health: sleep, exercise/movement, nutrition, stress management, and relationships/community. These 5 pillars enhance our overall function and work together to help us operate as our best selves. At the PLMC, we have chosen to focus on the following 5 areas which we call the 5 Functions of Health:
Behavioral Shedding light on what might be lacking in these areas is just the starting point of addressing health as a function of performance. Our goal is to evaluate these areas and use them as a framework to measure our patient’s chronic medical conditions. Through a series of questionnaires, in-office point-of-care testing, functional assessments, and results gathered from fitness trackers, we amass valuable data to establish a baseline. We use that to create an individualized health plan that meets your personal goals.
All 5 Functions are integral to overall wellness. Here we will focus on the second of the PLMC’s 5 Functions of Health:
Cognitive Health
When we think about cognitive health, the first thing that often comes to mind is the mind itself! Cognition is all about how we think and interpret the information we are delivered. There are many elements to cognitive health, all of which factor into brain health. Cognition is about understanding but it is also about discernment, memory, word recall, and task completion.
Cognitive function deals with how well the brain works. It involves focus, our ability to complete tasks, and how well we learn and retain information. The optimal cognitive function enables us to exercise effective problem-solving skills and efficient memory recall.
Some of the assessments that we perform to analyze and measure cognitive function include questionnaires from the NIH Toolbox, the Cambridge Brain Sciences Cognitive Testing Center, and Functional EEGs. Together, this information helps us evaluate:
- Learning & comprehension
- Memory
- Problem solving
- Thought processing
Why Cognitive Health Matters
A healthy brain is one that is buzzing with activity. Cognition plays a major role in our ability to function as active participants in the world around us and live our most engaged, healthiest lives. The sharper our minds, the better we are able to handle the challenges that life throws our way.
The PLMC is firm in our belief that health is all-encompassing. We have broken it down into 5 measurable components. Work with us to see actual change, results, and improvement in your function of life from every angle. Contact us today to get started.
