Comments on: Brain Fitness Program and Neuroplasticity @ PBS http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:00:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: zerodiv http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-193639 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:46:01 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-193639 I usually love pbs, but I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed with this program. I'm all for funding drives, but this was basically an infomercial. I usually love pbs, but I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed with this program. I'm all for funding drives, but this was basically an infomercial.

]]> by: Dispatch http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-180161 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:03:46 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-180161 Hi. I watched portions of the Brain Fitness Program on my local PBS station this past week. The high price for the software is not a scam, it is a pledge to support PBS, and the software is a gift. PBS also does shows on musicians (last I saw was the Osmonds), and for a pledged amount, you get Osmond stuff. I am a Moderator on a message board that advocates treatment options for Depression & Epiepsy/Seizure Disorder patients. I am looking for a low cost & scientifically proven results treatment option to share with the members. Is it possible this software would be beneficial adjunctive therapy in helping ease the frequency and severity of depression & seizures? We are not Physicians on this message board, and can not give medical advice. We do offer suggestions the members can research & discuss with thier treating Physicians. I myself suffer with seizures & depression resulting from a traumatic brain injury. The injury has caused learning difficulties, short term memory issues, balance & coordination problems, etc. I think this software would be beneficial for someone in my case. In most all cases, having seizures and uncontrolled depression require some sort of medication intervention, so in no way am I going to suggest any member go off meds, but to be able to utilize something like this software may open up a whole new world for some people in gaining better control over seizures & depression. Medication for these illnesses, as well as ECT treatments for depression, cause memory loss and alot of the time awful side effects. Some people have no relief from these treatments. It would be great to be able to have something that is non-invasive & non-toxic to help treat these illnesses. I look forward to any information any of you can provide. Thanks in advance for your time. Hi. I watched portions of the Brain Fitness Program on my local PBS station this past week. The high price for the software is not a scam, it is a pledge to support PBS, and the software is a gift. PBS also does shows on musicians (last I saw was the Osmonds), and for a pledged amount, you get Osmond stuff.

I am a Moderator on a message board that advocates treatment options for Depression & Epiepsy/Seizure Disorder patients. I am looking for a low cost & scientifically proven results treatment option to share with the members. Is it possible this software would be beneficial adjunctive therapy in helping ease the frequency and severity of depression & seizures? We are not Physicians on this message board, and can not give medical advice. We do offer suggestions the members can research & discuss with thier treating Physicians. I myself suffer with seizures & depression resulting from a traumatic brain injury. The injury has caused learning difficulties, short term memory issues, balance & coordination problems, etc. I think this software would be beneficial for someone in my case. In most all cases, having seizures and uncontrolled depression require some sort of medication intervention, so in no way am I going to suggest any member go off meds, but to be able to utilize something like this software may open up a whole new world for some people in gaining better control over seizures & depression. Medication for these illnesses, as well as ECT treatments for depression, cause memory loss and alot of the time awful side effects. Some people have no relief from these treatments. It would be great to be able to have something that is non-invasive & non-toxic to help treat these illnesses.

I look forward to any information any of you can provide. Thanks in advance for your time.

]]> by: Ken Cooper http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176981 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:47:44 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176981 Thanks for the quick response. I called PositScience, the developers of the Brain Fitness Program. They have a Mac version of this and are sending it to me. Bravo! Thanks again. Thanks for the quick response. I called PositScience, the developers of the Brain Fitness Program. They have a Mac version of this and are sending it to me. Bravo!

Thanks again.

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176924 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:01:28 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176924 Ken, we do not sell any product, but cover the whole market as a research & advisory firm. You probably are confusing companies. The documentation you have probably lists a website and customer support contact information. I encourage you to contact them and ask that question. Regards Ken, we do not sell any product, but cover the whole market as a research & advisory firm. You probably are confusing companies.

The documentation you have probably lists a website and customer support contact information. I encourage you to contact them and ask that question.

Regards

]]> by: Ken Cooper http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176913 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:57:36 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176913 Just received my Brain Fitness package. Nice! My main computer is an iMac but my plan has been to install this on my HP Presario C500 Windows (as required) laptop with Celeron M processor and Vista. The speed of this laptop is 533 MHz. Now I see that this program needs a speed of at least 1 GHz. I'm hoping you'll tell me to go ahead and load it because it will work fine at your 533 MHZ or that you now have a program for my iMac. I'll hold off loading this until I receive your answer. Just received my Brain Fitness package. Nice!

My main computer is an iMac but my plan has been to install this on my HP Presario C500 Windows (as required) laptop with Celeron M processor and Vista. The speed of this laptop is 533 MHz. Now I see that this program needs a speed of at least 1 GHz.

I'm hoping you'll tell me to go ahead and load it because it will work fine at your 533 MHZ or that you now have a program for my iMac.

I'll hold off loading this until I receive your answer.

]]> by: Martin http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-167313 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:21:06 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-167313 As this field begins to burgeon, it will be critical for us to be able to distinguish between the snake oil and the genuine article. Otherwise people will be wasting time and money and squandering hope on useless products. Journalists can help by not getting caught up in the hype. I would agree that $300 or so sounds exorbitant. $30 sounds better. And a program that begins with proven academic research is far less likely to be snake oil than one for which paid studies are supplied on demand. As this field begins to burgeon, it will be critical for us to be able to distinguish between the snake oil and the genuine article. Otherwise people will be wasting time and money and squandering hope on useless products.

Journalists can help by not getting caught up in the hype.

I would agree that $300 or so sounds exorbitant. $30 sounds better. And a program that begins with proven academic research is far less likely to be snake oil than one for which paid studies are supplied on demand.

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-165757 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:31:57 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-165757 Kathy, the only research-based cognitive interventions I have seen for ADHD kids are: 1) Cogmed working memory training program (software-based, available via clinicians) 2) Cognitive behavioral therapy 3) Meditation. With less evidence at this point, but very intriguing one, as we covered recently. None of the programs mentioned in the PBS program have published evidence on efficacy for kids with ADHD (they target other populations/ cognitive priorities). I suggest you consult your kids' doctor or specialist on what he/ she thinks may help. Kathy, the only research-based cognitive interventions I have seen for ADHD kids are:

1) Cogmed working memory training program (software-based, available via clinicians)

2) Cognitive behavioral therapy

3) Meditation. With less evidence at this point, but very intriguing one, as we covered recently.

None of the programs mentioned in the PBS program have published evidence on efficacy for kids with ADHD (they target other populations/ cognitive priorities).

I suggest you consult your kids' doctor or specialist on what he/ she thinks may help.

]]> by: Kathy http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-165619 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:36:15 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-165619 Mary Lu/Alvaro, I saw The Brain Fitness Program on PBS for the first time last night. I have been on the hunt for software for my ADHD diagnosed child for several years. Do you think this program would be of any benefit? Mary Lu/Alvaro,

I saw The Brain Fitness Program on PBS for the first time last night. I have been on the hunt for software for my ADHD diagnosed child for several years. Do you think this program would be of any benefit?

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-162901 Thu, 29 May 2008 00:41:37 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-162901 Michael, great point, thank you for sharing. Michael, great point, thank you for sharing.

]]> by: Michael P. Williams http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-162839 Wed, 28 May 2008 14:26:06 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-162839 I want to offer one important note to those who may contemplate obtaining 'The Brain Fitness Program' as a gift in return for a $365 pledge to PBS. When you receive the letter from PBS acknowledging your pledge, you will find that the actual valuation of your pledge (for tax purposes) is $65, with fair value of goods received (i.e., 'The Brain Fitness Program') noted as $300. How much of your $365 pledge actually makes its way in to the PBS treasury will depend, of course, on what their actual cost is for 'The Brain Fitness Program', but the contribution you will be able to report on your income tax return is $65. I want to offer one important note to those who may contemplate obtaining 'The Brain Fitness Program' as a gift in return for a $365 pledge to PBS. When you receive the letter from PBS acknowledging your pledge, you will find that the actual valuation of your pledge (for tax purposes) is $65, with fair value of goods received (i.e., 'The Brain Fitness Program') noted as $300. How much of your $365 pledge actually makes its way in to the PBS treasury will depend, of course, on what their actual cost is for 'The Brain Fitness Program', but the contribution you will be able to report on your income tax return is $65.

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