Page 12 - SENIORS ROCK MAGAZINE

3. STIMULATE YOUR information. The auditory program activities may be as stimulating, or
BRAIN—EVEN WITH (IMPACT) has been tested in large, more stimulating, than computer
clinical trials around the country
training,” says Park.
VIDEO GAMES and has been shown to improve
There is now ample scientific not only auditory processing Evidence from another recent study
evidence that keeping your mind speed and accuracy, but related may support Park’s hypothesis.
Robert Wilson monitored more
active is good for brain health. But skills like memory and attention. than 700 elderly participants for
what’s the best way to do that? Similar results have been found for five years and found that those who
the visual program, though using reportedly engaged in everyday
Recent studies show that computer- smaller study populations. mentally-stimulating activities—like
based exercises designed to improve reading the paper, visiting a library, or
brain function have been effective “The benefits of our training playing checkers or chess—were less
at increasing memory, information programs are substantial,” says likely to have cognitive impairment,
processing, reasoning, attention, Merzenich. “If you are 70 and your and were less than half as likely to
and problem solving skills among brain is operating like a typical develop the dementia symptoms
elderly participants. In some 70 year old, you can train with of Alzheimer’s disease. Even
studies, successful training in one our program, and your scores on when researchers considered the
skill area (e.g., short-term memory) cognitive tests will improve to levels participants’ past levels of education
and socio-economic status, being
led to improvements in areas you’d find in a 59-year-old brain.” mentally engaged later in life still
not covered in the training (e.g., seemed critical to reducing the risk of
executive control), suggesting that That may be true, but some dementia.
training benefits may “generalize” researchers are still skeptical.
to multiple brain functions and The challenge
improve overall cognitive health. “We just don’t know enough about
how these programs work,” says So, will all this research actually
Capitalizing on this research, Arthur Kramer. Although he compel people to do what it takes to
several companies have sprung up recently co-authored his own study keep their brains fit?
to market the idea of “brain fitness” using a video game to improve
to aging Baby Boomers. Though cognitive function in the elderly, “Let’s face it, some people hate to
many, such as Lumosity, have based he remains cautious, noting that exercise, even when they know it
their programs on neuroscience “there are still relatively few studies helps,” says Kramer. He argues that,
research, not all have done the of computer-based products.” as we age, we tend to slow down
rigorous testing needed to show and get sore joints, which makes it
their programs work. Denise Park, a researcher at the even harder to build up the will to
University of Texas, agrees. But she exercise. But Kramer believes that
Posit Science, founded by has an additional concern about communicating how exercise benefits
the brain may help motivate people to
neuroscientist Mike Merzenich, is computer-based training programs: change their lifestyles.
an exception. Posit has developed that seniors won’t maintain
two computer-based training interest in them long Mezernich of Posit Science suggests
programs for seniors designed enough to reap the another possible incentive: economic
to increase the speed and benefits. interest. He envisions a time when
accuracy of how they process health insurance companies will
auditory and visual “It may be very possible pay people, either directly or
that engaging in fun, through reduced insurance rates,
novel to participate in programs like his,
assuming they will reduce the need
for costly health care down the road.

Personally, I don’t need further
convincing, especially after
having one parent die of dementia.
Chances are I may be living even
longer than my dad, perhaps into
my 90s. And since I want to keep my
mind active even as my body ages, I’m
already trying to stay physically active,
keep my friends close, and give my
brain a regular work out.

But I think I’ll leave the Crypto-quips
to my dad.

By Jill Suttie
12
senior’s rock magazine