The Brain Exercise Initiative is a student run, volunteer based club that uses math, reading and writing as a form of cognitive development for the elderly. It is found that simple math exercises and reading aloud for just 30 minutes a day 5 days a week can have a positive impact on memory for those with Alzheimer's. This is currently being done extensively in Japan. It was discovered by a Japanese neuroscientist, Ryuta Kawashima, and consists of math exercises and reading aloud of short stories. Done for just 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week, improvements in Alzheimer’s patients have been observed. This initiative is based at local retirement homes in our community.