Memory loss, Alzheimer's Disease and dementia concerns are not just for, or about the elderly. Baby boomers and their adult children are researching in ever- growing numbers the results of studies that have consistently shown that increased exercise and the use of so-called "brain games" help reduce the effects that aging has on our memory skills. These studies have shown the following results:
Improving concentration and attention, Brain imaging studies show that highly-fit older adults have faster reaction times-an indication of better concentration-than their less-fit counterparts.
Reduces gray matter loss, People who are fit also show less of a decrease in gray matter in the cortex, which may suggest a protective effect of exercise against nerve cell death. This effect is most pronounced in areas of the brain involved in executive cognition that typically decline most with aging.
Promotes neurogenesis, Neurogenesis is the production of new nerve cells as a result of neuronal cell division. Laboratory animals that are allowed to voluntarily run on an exercise wheel show increases in the generation and survival of new neurons (brain cells) in the hippocampus (the area of the brain involved in short term memory)-. This increased neurogenesis is associated with improved learning.
If a method of preserving or restoring youthful mental vigor was safe and as simple and diverting as playing a video game for a short while each day, wisdom would tell us to do it. That calculation is why mental fitness programs have become the latest frontier in our nations quest to age without conceding to infirmity.
New thinking about brains.
For decades physicians and scientists asserted that declining mental performance was an immutable fact of aging. Brain cells were lost with age and wear and tear they believed. But in recent years a revolution in thinking has emerged as recent studies have shown that a stimulating environment can strengthen and develop new connections between cells among different regions of the brain.
In the last 18 months published studies have begun to provide the first rigorous evidence that something called brain-training exercises may have lasting effects on individuals, particularly the elderly- who use them. One area of particular interest to the aging population is this continuous research and advancements in memory loss and dementia. Study results published in the April 4, 2009 edition of the Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society are the first to show definitively
that computerized brain exercises can improve
memory and attention in older adults.
Some memory loss for most of the adult population is quite normal. We enter into various realms and stages involving memory loss naturally as we age, but the latest research has shown that various brain exercises can help strengthen the brain just as physical exercise strengthens the body.
Memory is a skill that must be cultivated and practiced. Anyone can learn to improve their skills at problem solving, learning and of course the memory. To improve memory requires practice, repetition and a healthy dose of patience. The power to use one's mind and to improve one's memory is available when used efficiently. A good memory can enhance every aspect of living. It is an integral part of life. The mind needs as much exercise as the body if it is to stay sharp and focused. Playing mental games and using external stimuli can help improve both concentration and memory.
New research shows that training the brain to process information more efficiently can help preserve memory as we age.
What can we do to help preserve and improve our memory?
-Keep your brain pathways flexible by challenging them:Try learning a new language, learn to play a musical instrument and play challenging brain games. There are many sources of brain games available through purchase via the internet. One recent UCLA study by Dr. Gary Small shows that even doing research on the internet showed improved cognitive function in the participants who were part of the study on the aging brain. -Dr Small had this to say:"A simple, everyday task like searching the Web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older" .
- FOCUS on new information. It takes several seconds for information to be processed through the hippocampus where short term memory is stored. So pay attention.
- Maintain good cardiovascular health :brains that don't receive healthy, steady supplies of oxygen rich blood can experience cognitive decline.
- Good nutrition:Recent studies have shown that optimum nutrition with the right vitamins and minerals can help improve memory loss.
We can summarize with the statement that people who keep their brains active by mental exercises are less likely to have Alzheimer's and dementia.
Robert Wilson, PH. D had this to say. --"We found that frequency of cognitive activity, but not of physical activity, was associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and the rate of cognitive decline, we found that compared to persons with infrequent cognitive activity, risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was reduced by 50% IN PEOPLE WHO WERE FREQUENTLY COGNITIVELY ACTIVE".
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