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CaringKind Launches Blue Zones Challenge in the Bronx to Promote Healthier Lifestyles and Create Positive Impact in Combating Alzheimer’s and Dementia-Related Disease

via Business Wire

New Initiative Empowers Residents with Longevity Habits to Support Brain Health and Overall Well-Being

CaringKind, a leading expert on Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving, today announced the launch of the Blue Zones Challenge in the Bronx, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at helping people adopt healthier lifestyles to help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The Blue Zones Challenge is evidence-based and built on research from Blue Zones, the company known for identifying and researching the “blue zones”, or the regions of the world where people live extraordinarily long and healthy lives with low rates of chronic disease.

Starting today and running through May 27, 2025, CaringKind and Blue Zones are bringing the healthy lifestyle habits of the longest-lived regions of the world to a small group of caregivers, individuals with dementia, and others interested in brain health. Through the challenge, a select cohort of Bronx residents and a select cohort of individuals living with dementia outside the Bronx will participate in a four-week program to jumpstart the journey towards better health with access to resources, community support, and self-assessments to track their progress in adopting these practices. This program will include tracking Blue Zones activities daily and improving social connections and one’s surroundings to support healthy behaviors.

While genetics play a role, a 2024 study by The Lancet found that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing modifiable lifestyle factors – such as nutrition, movement, and stress reduction. As part of CaringKind’s ongoing mission to develop information, tools, and training to provide support, resources, and research-driven solutions for individuals and families affected by dementia, the Blue Zones Challenge offers a four-week program designed to help Bronx residents incorporate simple, research-backed habits into their daily lives for better brain and overall health.

“New York State has the second-highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disease in the country, and the Bronx in particular has the highest rate of dementia among adults aged 65 and older at 16.6%. We are committed to finding innovative ways to help the community take proactive steps toward prevention, and if we can do it in the Bronx, we can do it anywhere,” said Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, President and CEO of CaringKind. “Through our partnership with Blue Zones, and inspired by Ikaria Greece, a blue zones region with extremely low rates of dementia, we are empowering individuals in the Bronx with lifestyle tools that could have a significant impact on long-term brain health.”

“The Blue Zones Challenge isn’t just about living longer, it’s about living better,” said Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones. “We are excited to collaborate with CaringKind to help this group of caregivers, people living with dementia, and others with an interest in brain health to find community and live healthier, happier, and less stressed lives. This pilot group will help inform what is possible as we work to find evidence-based solutions to positively impact dementia-related diseases.”

The initiative is driven by the CaringKind Blue Zones committee including Danny Buettner Jr., Blue Zones; Nick Buettner, Blue Zones; Dr. Carol Butler, CaringKind Support Group Leader; Helen Christoni, Make Time Wellness; Dr. Edward Cisek, CaringKind; Lynn Croneberger, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; Courtney Dawson, CaringKind; Trisha Devlin, Eli Lilly and Company; Patrick Dolan, The Durst Organization; Dr. Phyllis Barkman Ferrell, Startup Health Alzheimer’s Moonshot; Meghann Gill, SL Green Realty Corp.; Beth Grossfeld, RiverSpring Living; Emma Heming Willis, Make Time Wellness; Jon Henes, C Street Advisory Group; Sarah Hoit, Social Impact Partners; Dr. Lori-Renee Dixon James, The James M. Dixon Foundation; Jeffrey Jones, CaringKind; Honorable Kathy J. King, New York State Supreme Court; Linda LaGorga, Entegris; Sandra Martinez, R.A.I.N., Inc.; Deborah Messina, RiverSpring Living; Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, CaringKind; Kelly O’Brien, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; Caroline Fisher-O'Neill, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Michael Pollack, Early Stage Advocate; Maria Schulz, RiverSpring Living; Andrea Tallent Spivak, CaringKind; Perla Tamez-Casasnovas, Latina Empire; Dr. Anderson G. Torres, R.A.I.N. TOTAL CARE, Inc., George Vradenburg, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; and Bonnie Wattles, Hilarity for Charity.

About CaringKind

CaringKind is a leading organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving, providing expert guidance, training, and support for individuals, families, and caregivers. Through research-backed initiatives, CaringKind is committed to finding solutions to improve brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. More information is available at their website https://www.caringkindnyc.org/.

About Blue Zones

Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live better, longer. The company's work is rooted in explorations and research done by founder and National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner in blue zones regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily long and/or happy lives. The original research and findings were released in Buettner's bestselling books, The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones, Thrive, Blue Zones Kitchen, Blue Zones Challenge, and Blue Zones American Kitchen—all published by National Geographic books. An Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, was released on Netflix in 2023. Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones works with cities and counties to make healthy choices easier through permanent and semi-permanent changes to our human-made surroundings. Participating communities have experienced double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs. For more information, visit bluezones.com.

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