AdventHealth Research Institute and NESTRE Health & Performance Announce Collaboration to Advance Neurocognitive Health and Performance Through Cognitive Training

To improve understanding of the role cognitive training programs could play in boosting neurocognitive health, including prevention and treatment of neurological conditions, the AdventHealth Research Institute (AHRI) has established a collaboration with NESTRE™ Health & Performance. A mental and cognitive strength training and solutions company, NESTRE leverages the science of neuroplasticity and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning technology to enhance and protect brain health.

The two organizations will be working together to conduct scientific studies on NESTRE’s Neuroplasticity Strength Training tools, which include in-person training and a digital app. Together they will examine the utility and applicability of these tools to various clinical populations. Through the collaboration, AHRI and NESTRE also plan to design new cognitive training programs aimed at enhancing brain health and performance, evaluating their efficacy through clinical trials.

“We are at a pivotal point in our understanding of neuroscience and in particular, neuroplasticity – the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization,” comments AHRI Director for Translational Neuroscience Kirk Erickson, PhD. “This new research collaboration will allow us to rethink traditional methods and explore new ways to enhance brain performance and treat neurological conditions.”

Harnessing the Power of Neuroplasticity -- the Foundation of NESTRE’s Approach

After suffering career-ending concussions as a collegiate football player and experiencing a decade of mental and cognitive impairment and decline, NESTRE Health and Performance CEO Tommy Shavers created a model of self-recovery that helped him improve and served as the foundation for establishing NESTRE and its proprietary Neuroplasticity Strength Training.

“We believe in harnessing the power of the brain to change, learn, respond and adapt so that we can personalize how people get better, feel better and perform better,” shares Shavers. “Just like how physical fitness has evolved, our goal is to make brain fitness a lifestyle. We’re excited to partner with the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute to explore customized, practical applications for how our innovative approach to cognitive training could become both a preventive solution and an effective intervention.”

Seeking New Ways to Improve Brain Health

With an aging population and increases in the prevalence of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, physicians and patients alike continue to seek new tools and approaches to enhance brain health. Dr. Erickson has dedicated much of his career to exploring the effects of physical activity on brain health across the lifespan and currently serves as a Principal Investigator for the FLAME study, a multisite NIH-funded effort examining the long-term impacts of participation in moderate-intensity exercise interventions in older adults on cognitive performance changes and risk for Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Through this new partnership with NESTRE, he looks forward to investigating the potential impacts of integrating machine-learning based cognitive training into a fitness model.

“The idea is that by using artificial intelligence and machine-based learning, we can predict methods that might be more successful and then adapt regimens based on the characteristics of the person using it,” explains Dr. Erickson. “In many ways, this method of cognitive training resembles that of physical fitness training. We want to leverage the natural capacity of brain plasticity to improve brain health. This means that cognitive function can be maximized, mood and emotional control can be regulated, and recovery from injury or disease could be faster and more effective.”

AHRI and NESTRE plan to test the impact of cognitive training interventions across multiple clinical conditions. Initial target populations include stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

“Together we aim to tackle some of the most significant brain-based challenges with the goal of elevating human health and performance potential,” adds Erickson.

Looking Ahead to Expand Reach and Accessibility

As cognitive training intervention programs are tested, AHRI and NESTRE may look to expand, scaling validated initiatives to reach a broader audience through community outreach and education programs along with leveraging AdventHealth’s network of clinical care across Central Florida.

“We want to empower individuals to take control of their cognitive heath and envision a future where cognitive exercise is as common and accepted as physical exercise, providing a pathway to wellness, fitness, longevity, and performance for everyone," says Shavers.