Outlines the characteristics of emotions and their importance in human social behavior. Lists the five major domains of emotional intelligence. Explains the effects of emotional intelligence and social intelligence on love, happiness, and work. Describes strategies to improve self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills. Explains how emotional intelligence impacts mental disorders, chronic illness, provider-patient relationships, and stress management. Outlines how the information in this course can be utilized to improve patient care and patient outcomes. Describes, for this course, the implications for dentistry, mental health, and other health professions.

The course “Brain Health: Mood, Metabolism and Cognition” provides an overview of key factors that can improve mental health, as well as to ensure cognitive health. This course includes a discussion of: (1) the importance of stress management, (2) physical activity, (3) weight management, (4) early diagnosis and proper management of diabetes and pre-diabetes, (5) key dietary factors to “defend the castle”, including the concept of “nutritional psychiatry”, (6) ways to improve gut health so as to improve brain health, (7) proper sleep hygiene, (8) the importance of oral health, and, finally, (9) how to incorporate some of the characteristics of our ancestors’ lifestyle (i.e., address our modern “Paleo-Deficit disorder). Health professionals who complete this course will gain a much fuller understanding of the factors that impact brain health, as well as a range of techniques to help themselves, and their patients/clients, improve/preserve cognitive function and ensure positive emotional and mental health.

Describes how the biopsychosocial model of health and how disease impacts aging, health, life span, and longevity. Explains the dfferences between normal aging and age-related disease and their effects on life span and longevity, including periodontal disease. Describes the effects of genetics, epigenetics, and the environment on aging. Describes how the body and brain age at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organ system levels. Explains the causes of recent increases in life expectancy in the world and the United States. Describes the “super-ager” centenarians who have the longest and healthiest lives among all people. Lists the ten bio-psycho-social behavioral choices that everyone can do to extend health and life spans. Describes how the information in this course can be utilized to improve patient care and patient outcomes. Describes, for this course, the implications for dentistry, mental health, nursing, and other healthcare professions.