Dr. Brian Levine, co-developer of GMT
After suffering a head injury in a motorcycle accident, David had difficulty focusing and concentrating on tasks. At work, it took enormous energy to get through a project with the attention to detail required and he feared he would slip up.
He was resigned to this new reality until his occupational therapist introduced him to
Goal Management Training (GMT), a cognitive rehabilitation program pioneered at Baycrest that is the gold standard used to treat cognitive impairment from conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, mild cognitive impairment in aging, and depression.
“I was given tools to help me better identify the ways in which I was most likely to slip up and how to combat them,” he explains. “I learned a lot about myself and how my brain works. Now I’m more comfortable knowing I have the tools to move through my day successfully. Even simple things, like before I leave the house, I stop and ask myself, do I have my car keys? Do I have my wallet? Do I have everything I’m going to need for the day before I come back home?”
Previously only available in-person with a trained therapist, GMT has received funding from the provincial government’s Ontario Together Fund to be converted to a digital format so it can be delivered online with a trained therapist.
“This will make GMT far more accessible and could have a profound impact on people around the world who need treatment for a variety of conditions with associated cognitive impairment. As well, through this increased access, GMT can empower more older adults with concerns about their brain health to improve their cognitive function,” says Dr. Brian Levine, the Rotman Research Institute senior scientist who co-developed the program.
You can help people like David discover a world of possibilities by donating to Baycrest.
Please reach out to Tyler Small at
tsmall@baycrest.org or 416-785-2500 ext. 5461 for more information.