Scientific research
Access and utilize the ICAA library of scientific studies, reports and statistics to assist you with the development of your business case for wellness, program and community design and development, evidence-informed lifestyle choices and marketing strategies and approaches.
Tech: Robotic pet improves mood, behavior, cognition in dementia
While pet therapy is known to be a cost effective and therapeutic intervention for improving mood and behavior in older adults, little is known about pet therapy in people with mild-to-moderate dementia. So, researchers at Florida Atlantic University tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition over the course of 12 visits in an adult day center.
moreDementia
Sitting more linked to depression, anxiety
As people adhered to stay-at-home orders or self-isolated during the early months of the COVID-19 outbreak, daily commutes turned into shuffles between the bedroom and the living room. Clicking Zoom links erased time spent walking to meeting rooms, and Netflix spilled into time otherwise dedicated to the gym.
moreSedentary
Guide to building an employee advocacy program
While employees can be an organization's most powerful and effective source for marketing, recruiting and retention, how can you turn busy staffers into influential advocates and ambassadors for your brand? Ragan Communications aims to help organizations answer that question with a new, free and comprehensive guide, "How to build an employee advocacy program," which delves into tactics every business can use. It's definitely worth a read.
moreEmployee wellness
Illness, death messaging best motivation for exercise
Fitness apps that emphasize illness- or death-related messaging are more likely to be effective in motivating physical activity than are social stigma, obesity or financial cost messaging, according to a recent study.
moreExercise
Pandemic causes depression, anxiety disorders to soar
The first global estimates of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in 2020 suggests an additional 53 million cases of major depressive disorder and 76 million cases of anxiety disorders were due to the pandemic. Although younger people were more affected than older people, women at all ages were most affected. The authors call for urgent action by governments and policy makers to strengthen mental health systems globally to meet increased pandemic-related demand.
morePandemic
Stats: Boosting dairy intake curbs fracture risk by 33%
Increasing intake of foods rich in calcium and protein such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, reduced falls and fractures in senior living in a randomized, controlled trial. The study is one of only a few to examine whether getting these nutrients from foods (as opposed to supplements) is effective and safe. The researchers say the findings have "widespread implications as a public health measure for fracture prevention."
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