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Neurology October 16, 2025

maintain the brain 600x450A new music video released by the Brain Health Advocacy Mission (BHAM), part of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB, serves to convey the impact of lifestyle habits on brain health. The video reflects BHAM’s mission to inspire members of the community to prioritize brain health across the lifespan—starting at a young age.

Titled “Maintain the Brain,” the video illustrates how brain health begins with focusing on everyday actions such as movement, nutrition, sleep, and social connection in healthy ways in order to prevent dementia and stroke in the future.

“We know that music is an intrinsic part of our culture and that marketers and advertisers have used music for years to motivate consumers,” said Ronald Lazar, Ph.D., FAHA, FAAN, director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB. “We therefore embarked to create a music video to convey the message about engaging in habits that will promote a healthier life.”

According to Lazar, the Deep South has the highest prevalence of stroke and dementia in the country. Research, however, shows that up to 80 percent of strokes and 45 percent of dementia cases can be prevented by managing risk factors like blood pressure and glucose, and by adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise and a nutritious diet, especially when these habits begin in young adulthood.

“We believe that those who see the video will come to understand better the range of things we can do to promote longer-term brain health,” Lazar added. “With a major goal to engage young and middle-aged adults in improving brain health, we believe that our approach with hip-hop music will be engaging.”

Ranging in age from the 20s to 70s, hundreds of BHAM patients have already been enrolled from UAB primary care clinics into its brain health registry, and there are plans to expand access throughout the Birmingham metro area and into rural Alabama.

Watch “Maintain the Brain” here. For more brain health insights, follow BHAM on Facebook and Instagram.


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