Neurova Labs and the YMCA of Orange County Partner on Brain+, a Brain-Wellness Program Built for the Y
Updated: Sep 28
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 17, 2026. Neurova Labs is proud to partner with the YMCA of Orange County on Brain+, a small-group brain-wellness program that brings short, guided virtual reality sessions into the Y. The YMCA of Orange County developed Brain+ with Neurova Labs, iXpressGenes, and Greater Than Analytics and ran it first in its own branches. Any YMCA association can now bring the program to its members.
"What makes Brain+ powerful isn't just the training, it's the community, grounded in trust, where members show up for one another," said Dolores Daly, Chief Operations Officer of the YMCA of Orange County.
What is Brain+?
Brain+ is a small-group brain-wellness program that combines virtual reality training, short wellness check-ins, and an optional blood panel, all in a place members already know. Neurova Labs provides the immersive experience. iXpressGenes provides the optional RNA blood panel, and Greater Than Analytics handles outcomes and reporting. Participants do not need a diagnosis, a label, or any experience with virtual reality to take part.
The program runs over five consecutive days, with a check-in 30 days later:
Day 1: Get started. Participants complete a short wellness survey, meet their group, and get comfortable in virtual reality with a Program Coordinator.
Days 2 to 5: Small-group sessions. Guided, immersive sessions in a relaxed setting. The coordinator handles the technology so participants can focus on the experience.
Day 30: Check in. A follow-up survey shows how participants are doing. Where a Y offers the optional blood panel or sleep tracking, those results come back at this stage.
What did the Brain+ cohort studies find?
The two Brain+ cohort studies found a 28 percent average improvement in trauma symptom scores on the PCL-5 and a 24 percent average improvement in psychological distress on the Kessler-6, as preliminary, observational findings. The YMCA of Orange County ran the studies at two branches in June and July 2026. Y leadership and staff went through the program first, followed by general Y members, with more than 100 participants in total. The studies used validated self-report tools, including the PCL-5 and the Kessler-6, along with daily sleep diaries, wearable sleep data, and blood draws at Day 1, Day 5, and Day 30.
Preliminary findings include:
96 percent positive participant experience, and 84 percent completed the program
95 percent agreed their trainer created a comfortable, relaxed experience
28 percent average improvement in trauma symptom scores on the PCL-5, from 29.1 to 21.0 (p < 0.001)
24 percent average improvement in psychological distress on the Kessler-6, from 14.0 to 10.6 (p < 0.001)
85.7 percent improvement in stress and anxiety levels for participants with the highest psychological burden
22 percent improvement in overall sleep quality, with the strongest responders gaining about 51 more minutes of sleep per night
Participants who started with the greatest trauma burden generally showed the largest improvements. These are preliminary, observational findings, and a controlled validation study is underway.
Why does a brain-wellness program belong at the Y?
A brain-wellness program belongs at the Y because trust, access, and community are the foundation of the program, and the Y's commitment to whole-person health makes it a natural home for brain wellness. Brain+ began at the YMCA of Orange County for that reason. Research suggests 60 to 70 percent of adults will experience at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime. Over time, that load can show up as stress that is hard to shake, restless nights, and strain at work and at home.
How can a Y bring Brain+ to its members?
Members can ask their local YMCA about Brain+, and Y leaders can learn more at brainplus.org. Every Y is independently run and chooses its own programs, so member requests make a real difference.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Veterans and service members can press 1.
Reviewed by Marc Ó Gríofa, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Neurova Labs
About Neurova Labs
Neurova Labs is a veteran-led neurotechnology company based in Salt Lake City. Its program, Neurova Academy, is a facilitator-led neuro-immersive brain training program designed to support focus, stress regulation, and mental endurance, with no clinical infrastructure required. Programs can add an optional 22-marker panel measuring RNA gene expression from whole blood, processed by iXpressGenes, a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. Neurova Labs works with military units, first responder agencies, clinics, and community organizations. Learn more at neurovalabs.com.
Media contact: Nathaniel Free, Chief Communications Officer, Neurova Labs. nathaniel.free@neurovalabs.com.
Neurova Academy and Brain+ are general wellness programs. They are not medical devices and are not offered to diagnose, treat, cure, or mitigate any disease or condition, including PTSD, concussion, traumatic brain injury, or CTE. Outcomes described reflect preliminary, observational findings and individual experience, and are not a prediction of results for anyone else. Individual results vary. Laboratory testing is provided by iXpressGenes, a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory.
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