Results showed that for every “activity day” (participation in one activity for one day a week) the subjects engaged in, they delayed for about two months the onset of rapid memory loss associated with dementia. Interestingly, the positive effect of brain-stimulating activities in this study appeared to be independent of a person’s level of education.

This is great news as it suggests that it is never too late to try to build up brain reserve. The more brain stimulating activities one does and the more often, the better for a stronger cognitive reserve.

The cognitive reserve hypothesis suggests that individuals with more cognitive reserve can experience more Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the brain (more plaques and tangles) without developing Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

How does that work? Scientists are not sure but two possibilities are considered.
1. One is that more cognitive reserve means more brain reserve, that is more neurons and connections between neurons.
2. Another possibility is that more cognitive reserve means more compensatory processes (see my previous post “Education builds Cognitive Reserve for Alzheimers Disease Protection” for more details.)

Now, one may wonder about the difference types of mental stimulation available, including not only puzzles and such, but structured activities such as brain fitness software and meditation. Do we exercise our brain every time we think about something? What can one do to exercise one’s brain in ways that enhance capacity? Does aerobic fitness training also exercise one’s brain? What types of methodologies and products are available? Do they “work”? Are all the same?

Those are the types of questions we wanted to address in the book The SharpBrains Guide To Brain Fitness (available via Amazon.com). We are proud of the recognition the book has started to obtain, including endorsements by leading scientists:

“The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness is the only book that I know of that seamlessly integrates latest information about cognitive health across the lifespan, with interviews with active researchers examining cognitive maintenance and enhancement, along with reviews of commercial products targeted to cognitive enhancement. The book should be very useful to anyone interested in brain care, both health care professionals and the public at large”.
– Arthur Kramer, Professor of Psychology at University of Illinois

“This SharpBrains book provides a very valuable service to a wide community interested in learning and brain topics. I found it interesting and helpful”
- Michael Posner, Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon, and first recipient of the Dogan Prize

– Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., is SharpBrains’ Research Manager for Educational Projects. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University.

References:

- Study: Hall C, et al “Cognitive activities delay onset of memory decline in persons who develop dementia” Neurology 2009; 73: 356-361

- Book: The SharpBrains Guide To Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews, to Keep Your Brain Sharp

While it is true that we often tend to believe all this “brain fitness” stuff is most relevant to our parents and/ or grandparents, trust me, if you are reading this, you need it. Everyone with a brain can benefit from learning about how his or her brain works and how to maintain it with proper care.

And, from a company’s point of view, aren’t “talent” and “human capital” really all about brain fitness and cognitive performance?

The Conference Board and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (descriptions below) published in 2008 a 44-page booklet to “teach simple, practical strategies for incorporating brain-friendly practices into day-to-day life”.  Your Brain at work: Making the science of cognitive fitness to work for you is the first of three planned booklets on cognitive fitness.

The Conference Board and the Dana Alliance have allowed SharpBrains to share the following Action Plan with our readers, straight from Your Brain at work brochure. At the bottom of this post we also share instructions on how individuals and companies can get their own copies of this excellent brochure.

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Your Cognitive Fitness Strategy: An Action Plan for Brain Health

Write it down.
Putting your goals in writing makes them more meaningful. Adding why you want to achieve each goal is a real motivator.

Take baby steps.
You’ll feel overwhelmed if you try to address every aspect of brain health at once. Set priorities.

Give yourself a timeframe.
And remember: That implies giving yourself enough time to work at and master your goals.

Be realistic.
People who try to do too much too soon often get discouraged and give up altogether. Don’t be a victim of your own ambition. If your goals seem impossible, revise them.

Now, determine your baseline. Think about how you measure up against the healthy brain practices below.

Social Interaction
Who did I see today, and for what purposes?
What did I do to reconnect with someone I care about today?

Physical Activity
How many minutes did I walk today, including around the office?
How did I work exercise into my day?
Did I “walk and talk” at work, rather than emailing or phoning?

Cognitive Stimulation
What did I learn today?
What routine task did I approach differently today?
Did I challenge my mind? Did I do anything just for fun?

Diet
I ate ___ servings of fruits and vegetables today.
3 brain-healthy things I ate today are: ____________________________________

Stress Management
How was my stress level today?
What caused me the greatest stress today? What triggered it?
How did I cope? How did I relax?

Sleep
How well did I sleep last night? How long? Did I awaken during the night?
If sleep was poor, do I know why?
Did I feel drowsy during the day?
Did I nap?

How you answer these questions may help you determine which areas of brain health you need to focus on as you map out your cognitive fitness plan.

Note: This content has been reprinted with permission of The Conference Board and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives; do not reproduce without permission from The Conference Board/ DABI.

——-

How to Request copies of Your Brain At Work 

- Individuals may request free single sample printed copies from the Dana Alliance by emailing dabiinfo@dana.org

- For company sales inquiries, please contact The Conference Board’s Customer Service at at 212 339 0345. (more information at http://www.conference-board.org/Dana-Alliance/).

——-

The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives is a nonprofit organization of more than 265 leading neuroscientists, is committed to advancing public awareness about the progress and promise of brain research and to disseminating information on the brain in an understandable and accessible fashion. Recent neuroscience advances have shown the potential for conquering the devastating diseases and disorders of the brain that afflict millions of people, ranging from cocaine addiction to learning disabilities, from Alzheimer’s disease to spinal cord injuries. Supported entirely by the Dana Foundation, the Dana Alliance does not fund research or make grants.

The Conference Board is the world’s pre-eminent business membership and research organization.  The Conference Board creates and disseminates knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society.  Working as a global, independent, not-for-profit membership organization in the public interest, The Conference Board conducts research, convenes conferences, makes forecasts, assesses trends, publishes information and analysis, and brings executives together to learn from one another.

Without further ado, here you are both Essays:

Essay A. Preventing Alzheimer’s at Work

– By Josh H

5,000,000: that is the number of people in the United States alone who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that those who held jobs such as sanitation workers or trash collectors in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease than people who held jobs such as doctors or scientists at the same age. If everyone knew this, the world would benefit, and it could impact the lives of everyone.

If everyone in the world knew that certain jobs are more at risk for Alzheimer’s, it could affect them in many ways. First of all, students would study harder so that they will get better jobs and reduce unemployment. This information could also benefit people still in these jobs by demonstrating to them that using their brains can help prevent Alzheimer’s. Neurologist David Bennett has explained: “This doesn’t mean you should quit your job and go get a Ph.D. Education probably relates to how you use your brain throughout life — your job and leisure activities that stretch the mind.”

In addition, it could cause people who have had similar jobs to be tested for Alzheimer’s disease earlier and more regularly, which would be good for them and for the doctors treating them. If more people are tested, those who do have the disease will be able to be treated and will be less affected by it. The doctors who treat them will also be able to do so more effectively if they find out about it earlier. Unfortunately, this could have a negative effect with people who have jobs which are less likely for Alzheimer’s, such as doctors and scientists. However, if these people realized they are still at risk but are just less likely to get it, it would be positive, causing more people to be tested whether they have held a job which is more at risk or not. 

In addition to having a positive effect on people, everyone in the world knowing that certain jobs are more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease would help prevent many cases. More people would probably get tested if they knew, reducing the number of people in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. Also, anything known about the disease can help doctors find ways to prevent it. First of all, this information could help them better analyze patients for Alzheimer’s; secondly, it could be used as a treatment for the disease. This information, although partially related to jobs, is more related to brain use. This shows the importance of using our brains, and how mental health is related to it. In addition, if doctors and their patients knew that brain exercise can prevent Alzheimer’s disease, it could possibly be used effectively as a treatment or even as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing that brain use affects brain health would also cause everyone around the world to use their brains constantly, no matter what their age or job. If everybody in the world knew that certain jobs are more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, the information would be very helpful for preventing and treating many cases. 

5,000,000 people in the U.S. are affected by Alzheimer’s, but if everyone in the world knew about that certain jobs are more at risk, this number could be reduced significantly. The information would benefit people, and could cause them to be tested earlier. Also, knowing this would be very helpful as a way to prevent Alzheimer’s and would be a valuable tool for doctors. If everyone in the world knew that certain jobs are more at risk for Alzheimer’s, it would have a major positive effect, and would reduce the number of people who are mentally crippled by this terrible disease. 

References

- “Cognitive Reserve and Alzheimer’s.” pubmed.com. 12 Feb. 2008 . 

- “Cognitive Reserve and Lifestyle” pubmed.com. 12 Feb. 2008 . 

- Elias, Marilyn. “Want a Sharp Mind for Your Golden Years? Start Now.” usatoday.com. 12 Feb. 2008 

- Griffin, Kelly. “You’re Wiser Now.” aarpmagazine.org. 12 Feb. 2008 . 

 

Essay B. A Slippery Slope to Senility 

– By Amberlyn E.

Gray hair, glasses and… memory loss? This stereotype of a typical aging individual is not inevitable. A fast spreading epidemic, Alzheimer’s has many aging people understandably scared. However, there is an alternative to becoming senile, and mental exercises can help prevent it. In addition, lifestyle changes can help keep minds sharp and working at their best. Seniors must not wait until the world becomes a confusing blur and names fly out the back door like birds from a cage! 

Alzheimer’s is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain resulting in dementia; symptoms include restlessness, inability to recognize faces, bad hygiene, forgetfulness, and difficulty with daily functions. This fast-spreading disease has claimed 26 million victims worldwide, with a new diagnosis every 72 seconds. The world must know how to prevent this disease! If no cure is found by 2050, scientists estimate Alzheimer’s will claim 106 million people. Ten to twenty years before symptoms are evident, changes to the brain associated with Alzheimer’s have already occurred; even someone who believes he is very healthy could be sliding down a slippery slope to senility unaware. But preventing Alzheimer’s could change the world. 

Many people wonder how to prevent this degenerative disease. The answer could revolutionize the world, drastically decreasing the number of individuals who Alzheimer’s reduces to a feeble state of dependence. Alcohol, drug abuse, and smoking contribute to Alzheimer’s, so avoiding these substances would be one preventive measure. Interestingly, heart and brain health are closely connected, so things that improve the heart, such as exercise, also improve the health of the brain. Another way of preventing Alzheimer’s is found in the diet: fish oils have been shown to help prevent this disease. In addition, the Omega 3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic can also help prevent it by increasing the production of LR11, a protein that clears away enzymes that make beta anyloid plaques thought to cause Alzheimer’s. Studies have shown that although memory is not lost, it cannot be accessed due to plaques in the brain. So if the Omega fatty acids could clear away the plaques, memory would be restored. If individuals acted on these simple preventive measures, they could drastically the future of the entire world by eliminating numerous cases of Alzheimer’s. 

Many people have fallen prey to believing the lie that nothing can prevent Alzheimer’s. Actually, the startling outbreak of Alzheimer’s is in part because our culture makes people lazy and reluctant to use their minds. Due to a rumor that the mind cannot make new brain cells after reaching adulthood, most people believe they cannot improve their brains. On the contrary, though, the mind can always create new brain cells. Many companies recently began marketing products such as video games targeted at adults, mind games, and sudoku handhelds to promote brain growth. In addition, simple ways of exercising the brain and creating new neuropathways exist, such as doing normal routines in a different way or learning new skills. Playing simple but challenging games, learning a new language, or simply memorizing things are other possibilities. The world has to hear about these preventive measures so that they can escape Alzheimer’s. If not exercised regularly, brain cells actually die; but if the cells are used, they stay healthy and even grow. Obviously, many ways exist to improve one’s brain that prevent the devastating disease of Alzheimer’s. 

Fortunately for everyone, there is an alternative to losing their minds. Although Alzheimer’s is spreading fast, many brain-stretching games and exercises along with lifestyle changes will keep the brain alert and functioning at its best. So although gray hair and glasses may be hard to avoid, rest assured that senility is avoidable. Start today and keep your mind sharp and memories safe. 

References

- “About Alzheimer’s.” Fischer Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. 14 Feb. 2008 . Gorman, Christine.

- “Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s?” Time. 14 Feb. 2008 . Shute, Nancy.

- “New Research Suggests Ways to Slow–or Prevent–Alzheimer’s”. U.S. News. 14 Feb. 2008 .

- “Fish Oil May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s.” The Washington Post. 14 Feb. 2008 . Dayan, B..

- “Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease Early On.” Science Daily. 14 Feb. 2008 . Hill, Carrie. “How to Develop Your Personal Plan for a Healthy Brain”. About.com. 14 Feb. 2008 .

Now we are launching a new Author Speaks Series to provide a platform for leading scientists and experts writing high-quality brain-related books to reach a wide audience. We are honored to start the series with an article by Larry McCleary, M.D, former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children’s Hospital, and author of The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy (Perigee Trade, 2007).

Without further ado, let’s enjoy Dr. McCleary’s article:

Brain Evolution and Why it is Meaningful Today to Improve Our Brain Health

You may feel overwhelmed by the stream of seemingly contradictory suggestions regarding the best way to maintain mental clarity as you age. Based on an analysis of seminal factors in the development of modern brain anatomy, I believe it is possible to make some very compelling recommendations for growing big brains, enhancing their function, and making them resistant to the aging process. These may be loosely categorized as factors pertaining to the mental or physical attributes of the brain. Although they are not truly independent entities, such a conceptualization provides a basis for the generation of brain healthy prescriptions. Diet, physical exercise, and stress reduction enhance neuronal resilience. Sleep and mental stimulation are vital for cognitive ability, learning, and memory.

Diet: Follow a modern shore-based/marine diet including seafood in its most general sense, non-starchy vegetables of all colors, berries, and eggs. Other sources of lean protein containing long-chain omega 3 fatty acids such as free range beef, chicken, bison, or elk are nutritious alternatives.

Physical exercise (Think ‘fight or flight’ activity.): Include all types. Aerobic activities such as swimming, bicycling, walking, or hiking for promotion of vascular health and weight control; resistance training for promotion of neurotrophic factors, naturally occurring compounds that make brain cells more resistant to aging, such as IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor-1) and BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor); and balance, coordination, and agility training such as ping-pong, balance beam, trampoline, and jumping rope to enhance cognitive speed and motor skills.

Stress Control: From an evolutionary perspective, stressors (such as meeting a cave bear) and intense physical activity (running or fighting) were brief in duration and usually occurred together. Modern stressors (psychological or emotional stress) tend to be unremitting and are generally uncoupled from the physical (fight or flight) component, meaning stress develops without any associated physical activity. Such intense physical pursuits are now called exercise. Not surprisingly, exercise is a perfect physiologic antidote for stress due to its beneficial impact on cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone) and blood pressure and should be incorporated into any program of stress reduction.

Adequate sleep: The body needs rest, but the brain requires sleep. Acute or chronic sleep deprivation causes devastating short and long-term consequences to brain anatomy (synaptic loss) and function (memory and learning difficulties). Off-line information processing and memory consolidation are additional sleep-related benefits.

Mental stimulation: Brain-training, a cognitively challenging lifestyle, novelty, and socialization are vital for the promotion of neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis (the formation of new nerve cells and neuronal connections), the enhancement of specific brain functions such as memory, and the development of cognitive reserve –additional mental processing potential that may be brought online when needed.

The combination of these recommendations, each of which was instrumental in the transformation from primitive to modern nervous systems, provides a template for the most logical approach for enhancing mental function and resisting neurodegeneration as we travel through life.

The Evolutionary Rationale

The human brain clearly has the genetic potential for dramatic expansion. This was illustrated about 1,500,000 years ago. Enlargement from 900 grams to almost 1300 grams required less than a million years to complete – a mere speck on the evolutionary timeline. Why and how it happened are open questions. What remains undisputed are the magnitude of the change and the impact it had on human capabilities. The rapid volumetric explosion primarily involved the frontal lobe region, a portion of the brain that, until recently, was referred to as the ‘silent’ brain because of its relative lack of any discernable functionality. The frontal lobes are now viewed as the ‘conductor of the orchestra’ because they have been recognized as being responsible for articulating the ‘big picture’ and coordinating other brain regions, as needed, to execute the ‘game plan.’ The Prefrontal cortex (PFC), the most anterior portion of the frontal cortex, has dense connections with all the other regions it oversees. It is generally considered the most plastic cortical region because its synapses are continually being torn down and reconfigured in response to real-time experiences. Plasticity allows the brain to ‘think on its feet.’ Expansion of PFC enabled the cognitive preeminence of modern day humans over all non-human primates. The plasticity of the PFC and its massive connectivity with other brain regions rely entirely on the production and maintenance of point-to-point nerve cell connections, or synapses.

In addition to being a thinking machine, the brain is also a flesh and blood organ that must comply with the laws of metabolism and physiology. Insight into both its ‘mental’ and ‘physical’ properties is vital for comprehending key aspects of brain health and function. Much has been written about the facilitation of brain growth by cognitively demanding tasks such as tool use and hunting. However, there is a component of circular reasoning in this argument. For it to participate in such mentally demanding endeavors, the brain would have relied on the prior existence of sophisticated neuronal circuitry. I suggest a nutritional basis for the dramatic cerebral expansion, with enhanced functionality (such as development of tool use and hunting strategy) being the natural responses of a larger, more plastic organ to novelty and environmental challenges. The common link between the evolutionary cerebral expansion and modern brain health/function resides in the massive wiring demands inherent in both processes. This marked amplification in neuronal connectivity is made possible by the enhanced production of synaptic membranes (nerve cell membranes in the regions of points of nerve cell contact).

How was it possible to fuel the production of major increases in neuronal number and synaptic density? This required the concordant expression of genetic potential (likely driven, in part, by the provision of an uninterrupted energy supply) and proper nutritional content – meaning high, sustained caloric and nutrient density. Just as a certain level of fat mass is a prerequisite for expansion of the female body to support a successful pregnancy, a persistent supply of nutrient dense calories is essential for brain expansion. In times of frequent starvation, this was a substantial nutritional demand. To fully appreciate how energetically expensive brains are, consider that modern brains comprise about 2.3% of the body mass, yet consume almost one quarter of the available energy. Newborn brains utilize fully 75% of the body’s energy!

What type of brain-building diet might have been accessible 1.5 million years ago that didn’t require the cognitive demands inherent in hunting? One solution would be a ‘shore-based’ diet. This means foraging for life forms such as mollusks, crustaceans, eggs, spawning fish, frogs, and contiguous plant life readily available along lake shores or river banks. In a warm clime it would have provided a year-round, high quality diet abundant in calories, fat and protein. It also supplied long-chain omega 3 fatty acids (including DHA), the building blocks of electrically active membranes in neurons and photoreceptor cells.

Big brains must also synthesize abundant cholesterol and other components of nerve cell membranes. This requires a water-soluble source of appropriate building blocks. Ketone bodies (acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate) generated naturally from partially burned fat were, and continue to be, an ideal energy source for the brain while simultaneously providing key precursors for synthesis of nerve cell membranes and synapses. These facilitated the anatomic expansion of the brain, which provided the additional neuronal circuitry that made the learning of hunting skills a possibility.

Hence, what was compulsory for explosive brain expansion of the species is as vital today for optimal brain function and plasticity. It is the ongoing ability to produce high levels of the most functional sites of nerve cells – the synaptic membranes. Appropriate assemblies of nerve cells, as determined by their connections (synapses), provide the basis for the functional attributes we enjoy today. Stress reduction, mental stimulation and proper sleep enhance their resistance to the aging process.

 

—This article was written by Larry McCleary, M.D, for SharpBrains.com’s Author Speaks Series. Dr. McCleary (blog) is a former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children’s Hospital. He is trained and has practiced as a pediatric neurosurgeon and has completed post-graduate training in theoretical physics. His scientific publications span the fields of metabolic medicine, tumor immunology, biotechnology and neurological disease. He is the author of The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy (Perigee Trade, 2007).

- In 1960, Diamond became the first female faculty member in Cal’s science department, achieving full professorship in 1974. She still teaches anatomy with her 81st birthday two weeks away.

- Diamond, a professor of anatomy at UC Berkeley, determined that the brain can stay young through stimulation, which can be achieved through her five-point plan: diet, exercise, challenge, newness and tender loving care.

- Using her plan, how is she challenged?

- “Every student who sits in that chair,” she said, pointing across the desk in her fifth-floor office in the Life Sciences Building on campus. “They come in here asking questions, and you better have the answers.”

- What newness, then, is in her life?

- “I have grandchildren,” she said. “What could be better, deciding new things for them, to stimulate their brains.”

- She has four children, four grandchildren and a husband, Arnold Scheidel, who teaches anatomy at UCLA. They see each other on school weekends,

- Diamond feels her own brain growing.

Keep reading here.

 

Related resources

A previous post listing a number of her essays: Marian Diamond and the Brain Revolution

Her great book Magic Trees of the Mind: How to Nurture Your Child’s Intelligence, Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence, by Berkeley’s Marian Diamond and Janet L. Hopson.

• “In the view of two of Bellugi’s frequent collaborators, Albert Galaburda, a Harvard Medical School professor of neurology and neuroscience, and Allan Reiss, a neuroscientist at the Stanford School of Medicine, Nicki’s learned facility at sports talk illustrates a central lesson of Williams and, for that matter, modern genetics: genes (or their absence) do not hard-wire people for certain behaviors. There is no gene for understanding calculus. But genes do shape behavior and personality, and they do so by creating brain structures and functions that favor certain abilities and appetites more than others.”
• “…This doesn’t mean that specific behaviors are hard-wired. M.I.T. math majors aren’t born doing calculus, and people with Williams don’t enter life telling stories. As Allan Reiss put it: “It’s not just ‘genes make brain make behavior.’ You have environment and experience too. By environment, Reiss means less the atmosphere of a home or a school than the endless string of challenges and opportunities that life presents any person starting at birth.”
• (Talking about when our ancestors started to live in larger groups) “But the bigger groups imposed a new brain load: the members had to be smart enough to balance their individual needs with those of the pack. This meant cooperating and exercising some individual restraint. It also required understanding the behavior of other group members striving not only for safety and food but also access to mates. And it called for comprehending and managing one’s place in an ever-shifting array of alliances that members formed in order not to be isolated within the bigger group…The bigger an animal’s typical group size (20 or so for macaques, for instance, 50 or so for chimps), the larger the percentage of brain devoted to neocortex, the thin but critical outer layer that accounts for most of a primate’s cognitive abilities. In most mammals the neocortex accounts for 30 percent to 40 percent of brain volume. In the highly social primates it occupies about 50 percent to 65 percent. In humans, it’s 80 percent.” 
• “Generating and detecting deception and veiled meaning requires not just the recognition that people can be bad but a certain level of cognitive power that people with Williams typically lack. In particular it requires what psychologists call “theory of mind,” which is a clear concept of what another person is thinking and the recognition that the other person a) may see the world differently than you do and b) may actually be thinking something different from what he’s saying.”  

Enjoy the full article The Gregarious Brain.

You can learn more about cognitive skills and our ancestors at our recent post, titled Apes, Speedy Learners, and new Brain Fitness Channel, that shows the amazing abstract thinking skills of orangutans. Another related post on nature vs. nurture: Richard Dawkins and Alfred Nobel: beyond nature and nurture.

David Brooks writes a great column (requires subscription) in the NYT titled A Critique of Pure Reason. He expands the usual restricted understanding of “education” to incorporate a wider sense of “learning”, by discussing 

1. Where

• “The creative ones (politicians) will finally absorb the truth found in decades of research: the relationships children have outside school shape their performance inside the school.”

“From “brain gyms” on the Internet to “brain-healthy” foods and activities at assisted living centers, the programs are aimed at baby boomers anxious about entering their golden years and at their parents trying to stave off memory loss or dementia.”

Keep reading today’s New York Times article As Minds Age, What’s Next? Brain Calisthenics.

The article also refers to Posit Science, HappyNeuron, MyBrainTrainer, and other companies, insurers and residences offering brain fitness programs/brain exercise software.

And includes a note of caution: “This is going to be one of the hottest topics in the next five years — it’s going to be huge,” said Nancy Ceridwyn, co-director of special projects for the American Society on Aging. “The challenge we have is it’s going to be a lot like the anti-aging industry: how much science is there behind this?”

You can learn more by checking our longer post yesterday, New Research on How to Maintain a Sharp Brain, where we commented on yesterday’s NYT Editorial, the results from the JAMA study and an IHRSA newsletter to fitness and health clubs that we authored.

When tested five years later, these participants [in a cognitive training study] had less of a decline in the skill they were trained in than did a control group that received no cognitive training. The payoff from mental exercise seemed far greater than we are accustomed to getting for physical exercise — as if 10 workouts at the gym were enough to keep you fit five years later.

and

If further studies show that mental exercises can improve everyday functioning, doctors may need to prescribe such training, senior centers may want to set up “brain gyms,” and aging Americans would be wise to do brain-stretching activities. For this purpose, even the Medicare prescription drug program, which critics deem too confusing for many older people to navigate, could prove an unexpected blessing. Spend 10 hours mastering its intricacies today and you could be a lot sharper than your compatriots five years from now.

To read the complete, original study published in JAMA, read The Benefits of Brain Exercises/Brain Fitness.

IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, printed this article on mental muscles with suggestions on how to add brain workouts to your traditional physical workouts. Essentially, humans need both physical and mental exercise for good brain health.

Scientific American also wrote an article on Brain Gain: Mental Exercise Makes Elderly Minds More Fit. One of the study co-authors is quoted as saying

“To drive this effect, you have to practice things that you don’t like or things you don’t regularly practice,” Marsiske says. “We hope to find ways of making these training programs more widely available to people and begin to encourage something more like mental exercise.”

As we have mentioned before when talking about key ingredients for a brain fitness program, you need: novelty, variety, and stretching practice (increasing challenge over time). Computerized programs do the best job of reliably meeting these criteria, but doing anything is better than doing nothing!

If you are still uncertain as to what is Brain Fitness, then feel free to download a complimentary copy of our newly released Brain Fitness for Sharp Brains: Your New New Year Resolution. We wrote this guide as a plain English introduction to the concept, science, and practice of brain fitness by answering 25 questions we have received over the last four months.

• “most of the research suggests that the “achievement gap” has real neurological roots, which are caused by distinct home environments: Hart and Risley showed that language exposure in early childhood correlated strongly with I.Q. and academic success later on in a child’s life.”
• “This is really important research, but I can’t help but think that part of the equation is missing. While Paul Tough, author of the Times article, focuses on gaps in environmental enrichment – poor kids are exposed to fewer words, have less stimulating conversations, etc. – he ignores what might be an even more potent variable: stress.”
• “Gould’s work implies that the symptoms of poverty are not simply states of mind; they actually warp the mind. Because neurons are designed to reflect their circumstances, not to rise above them, the monotonous stress of living in a slum literally limits the brain.”

Dave writes How to educate those who seem uneducable, building on Jonah’s post and linking to “research by Angela Duckworth and Martin Seligman showing that self-discipline is more important than high IQ in student achievement.”

I agree that the importance of stress management and self-discipline (or emotional self-regulation) are often overlooked, which is precisely why we are focusing there. You can read a Technology & Learning magazine article on Biofeedback for Emotional Management and Peak Performance, and a post on Cognitive Neuroscience and Education Today, where we mentioned:

(new programs help address) Anxiety and stress: not only test anxiety, but overall high-levels of anxiety that inhibit learning and higher-order thinking: a program already used in many schools, and with promising research results, is the Institute of HeartMath’s Freeze-Framer. Read How stress and anxiety may affect Learning Readiness, and Why chronic stress is something to avoid.

Good night,

Alvaro