Sarabella
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Meet Sarabella the Brain
Meet Sarabella
She's pink, she's got great sneakers, and she's here to remind you that taking care of your brain doesn't have to feel like a chore.
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Sarabella is the official mascot of the Illinois Brain Health Project (ILBHP), a statewide initiative led by the Illinois Department of Public Health to help Illinois residents reduce their risk of cognitive decline. She shows up wherever brain health conversations are happening — in ads, on social media, at community events — modeling the everyday choices that add up over time: moving your body, eating well, getting quality sleep, staying cognitively engaged, and managing health conditions like blood pressure and diabetes.
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How she got her name
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In August 2025, as part of the Your Brain Will Thank You campaign launch, we asked the public to weigh in. Six names were on the ballot — Sarabella, Remi, Ellie, Booster, Witty, and Charge — and Illinois residents voted. By the end of the month, Sarabella had won!
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The naming campaign wasn't just a fun engagement tactic, it was an early signal of what this campaign is trying to do: make brain health feel like something that belongs to everyone, not just clinicians or caregivers. When people voted on our mascot's name, they became part of the story. And when they're part of the story, they're more likely to pay attention to what she's saying.
What she stands for
Sarabella represents the five core risk factor elements at the heart of the Your Brain Will Thank You campaign: physical activity, good nutrition, quality sleep, cognitive engagement, and managing your health conditions. Each of these is a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia — meaning the choices you make today can affect your brain health down the road. Sarabella's job is to make these lifestyle changes feel less daunting and more doable.
Spread the word
Think Sarabella belongs on more timelines? So do we. Share her on social and tag us with
#YourBrainWillThankYou #IllinoisBrainHealth
