Two Homestead High School students spearheaded a project that raised awareness about dementia and led to federal legislation being passed. Arhan Chakravarthy and Samik Thakur launched Project Preserve through their school’s Future Business Leaders of America club last August. The project began with the observation that despite affecting millions of Americans, dementia is not prioritized in healthcare policies. The students advocated for the NAPA Reauthorization Act (HR 619) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (HR 620), contributing to their successful passage.
Project Preserve also included a podcast, “The Mind Matters: Understanding Dementia,” featuring experts on cognitive health and dementia care. The podcast attracted over 1,200 listeners. Additionally, the students created an interactive platform, Brain Boggle, to exercise cognitive skills and track progress, attracting over 500 unique visitors.
To engage the community, the team connected classmates with volunteer opportunities at Crescent Oaks Memory Care, where students played memory games and engaged in social activities with seniors.
Their efforts earned recognition from many officials, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, Congressman Ro Khanna, and state Sens. Josh Becker, Dave Cortese, and Aisha Wahab.
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This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool, and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.