To offset the disturbing news as reported in an Associated Press poll this week that Americans are reading less for pleasure than ever before, and in some cases, reading fewer than four books a year, here is some good news on the scientific front...
Senior adults, prepare to boost your brainpower with Brain Fitness! It can be done, say researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Southern California, who presented their research at a recent meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.
Over 500 senior adults participated in a series of, dare we say it,"brain calisthenics" designed by the Posit Science company, to enhance the brain's SAAGE recall, or, Speed, Accuracy, Adaptivity, Generalizability, and Engagement. The results are impressive and warrant closer review: Seniors who completed the 40-hour Posit Brain Fitness training scored higher on memory tests than people ten years younger. An added bonus: the majority of participants also reported an improved quality of life.
While many memory-enhancing products are already on the market, such as brain-boosting computer games, available at happyneuron.com, mybraintrainer.com and Nintendo's Brain Age, the software developed by Posit focuses on improving daily recall by stimulating auditory responses that often decline with age. Targeted research is already in progress for specific groups, such as Alzheimer's and dementia patients. You can learn more about the company's work, by visiting their website, www.positscience.com.
While Posit has a steep $400 pricetag, AARP, Humana and MetLife all offer free brain health literature to its members, and in some cases, discounted admission to brain fitness camps.
By linking the healthy habits of daily exercise and a diet rich in antioxidants and Omega-3, these other new ideas coming to the marketplace hold promise and excitement for improving and extending brain health. Stay tuned.
