Brain Games

Image by Alejandro Peters

Things that make you go hmmm

• Article on the Medscape Nursing site: Brain Fitness Games Improve Delayed Memory in Elderly Adults
  Pam Harrison reports a study showing that playing the Dakim  Brainfitness computerized program improved certain types of memory in elderly adults who played the game consistently for 6 months.  She quotes Dr Gary Small , a source I trust, as stating that the results are encouraging.  I went to Dakim.com, sampled some interesting games, and checked out their company blog--also interesting.  The price is daunting--$2299.00 plus $19.99 a month.
• A recent e mail from Prevention  http://www.brainpowergameplan.com/uof/brainpowergameplan/   suggests you can improve all aspects of your brain functioning up to 78% in just four weeks.  Cost of book is four installments of $6.50 each plus shipping and handling.
• Claims I've noticed in several sources that making small changes, such as brushing your teeth with your non dominant hand will improve aspects of brain functioning.
• A common belief among my friends that doing crossword puzzles will preserve your brain function. 

From what I've read, there's good science supporting the idea that exercising your brain will improve its functioning.  Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by creating new neural connections throughout life, and it's the concept behind brain training.  In the next post, I'll list some general principles to take advantage of neuroplasticity and what I'm choosing to do about them.