"Alvaro Fernandez synthesizes and translates the latest neuroscience into provocative, compelling, and entertaining stories of mental fitness and the future of the brain." --David Pescovitz, Research Director, Institute for the Future.
Alvaro Fernandez, SharpBrains' co-founder and CEO, speaks regularly to a wide range of audiences in both small, informal groups and large, more formal ones. A member of the Global Agenda Councils run by the World Economic Forum, Alvaro has been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, among others. He co-authored the The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009 report and the book The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness.
Detailed LinkedIn Profile: Alvaro Fernandez.
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Upcoming Conferences
>> July 17th, Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Brain Fitness in Senior Housing, at WAHSA’s 2009 Senior Housing Conference.
>> July 23th, Seattle: Wellness Gaming: Games that are Good for You panel, at Casual Connect.
>> September 8th, Petaluma, California: The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness, at the Club One Fitness Center.
>> September 9th, San Francisco: The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness, at San Francisco State University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
>> September 23rd, New York Public Library: The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness.
>> November 3rd, San Francisco: Brain Fitness For Peak Performance, at the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Speaker Series.
>> November 20-22nd, Dubai: proceedings of the Council on the Aging Society during the Summit of the Global Agenda run by the World Economic Forum.
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Recent 2009 Events
>> June 11th, Boston: Bird´s Eye View of Cognitive Health Innovation, at the Games for Health Conference.
>> June 1-2nd, Washington, DC: The Role of Cognitive Assessments and Brain Fitness in Care Management, at the National Medicare Readmissions Summit.
>> April 8th, University of North Carolina Greensboro: Cognitive Fitness and the Aging Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges, at the Silvering Workforce Summit.
>> April 6th, Stanford University: How Neuroscience Will Impact Education and Healthcare: A 5-10 Year View, at the Stanford SELA Summit.
>> March 17th, San Francisco: Baby Boomers and Brain Fitness - Are You Ready?, at the IHRSA annual conference.
>> March 15-19th, Las Vegas: The State of the Brain Fitness Market in 2009 and Brain Fitness in Senior Housing at the ASA/ NCOA annual conference.
>> March 9-12th, San Jose: Emerging Research and Technologies for Life Hacking, at ETech 2009.
>> March 5th, New York Academy of Medicine: Brain Fitness Software - Consumers Guide to distinguishing hope from hype, at the Comprehensive Approach to Dementia Symposium sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center.
>> January 22nd, Consumer Reports' Blogger Health Summit, NYC.
>> January 8-9th, Arizona State University: Cognitive Fitness - Emerging Trends and Challenges, at the Co-Adaptive Learning: Adaptive Technology for the Aged Symposium.
Some clips
> The 4 Pillars of Brain Health. 1:18 min.
> The Emerging Brain Fitness Market. 90-minute-long talk and panel discussion. Alvaro starts at minute 8.
> The Evolutionary Brain. 4:56 min.
Some recent topics
1. Brain Fitness: Fact or Fiction
Alvaro will summarize emerging research on cognitive and emotional health and provide a landscape of key trends, research findings, assessments, lifestyle options and training products. Neuroscientists have shown how the human brain retains neuroplasticity (the ability to rewire itself) and neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons) during its full lifetime, leading to a new understanding of what lifelong development means. Alvaro will review the science behind some key concepts and explore their implications on our lives: neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, the Cognitive Reserve theory for healthy aging, cognitive training, emotional self-regulation, and the 4 pillars for lifelong Brain Fitness: good nutrition, stress management, and physical and mental exercise.
2. The Emerging Brain Fitness Market
Scientific, technological and demographic trends have converged to create a new $265m market in the US alone: software and online applications that can help assess and train cognitive abilities, both sharpening minds and contributing to healthier aging. Alvaro Fernandez will summarize the science, key market segments, players and trends, and discuss the implications for Consumer Health, Healthcare Providers, K12 Education, and the military and sports teams.
3. Exercising Our Brains for Peak Health and Performance
New and challenging situations – such as taking on new responsibilities– can trigger reactions in our brain and body that limit or even block our decision-making abilities. These reactions may also harm our long-term brain power and health. Although we cannot avoid change and stressful situations, we can learn how to manage our mindset and actions to ensure peak performance-even in tough moments. The latest neuroscience research shows how skills such as decision-making under pressure are trainable “mental muscles”. Attendants will leave this fun workshop with both memorable insights and A-Ha moments and practical skills for their everyday life.
If you are interesting in learning more, please email Alvaro at information@sharpbrains.com indicating the details of your Speaking Inquiry.
