Software Programs Feed Need For Brain Exercise
July 4th 2008 07:44
BY J. BONASIA
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Posted 7/3/2008
The aging of America is posing new burdens on families, communities and government agencies, as more seniors suffer from memory loss or dementia due to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
But some support is on hand, new "brain fitness" software programs. A number of firms have come out with software products to help older folks help themselves.
Such products include (m)Power Cognitive Fitness System from Dakim, Mindfit from Cognifit, Mind Builder from Core Learning, Lumosity from Lumos Labs and Brain Fitness Program from Posit Science of San Francisco. Some others include Brain Age from Nintendo, and Radica Brain Games distributed by Mattel. (MAT)
For years, doctors understood that reduced brain capacity was a natural result of aging. The adult brain loses many brain cells or neurons each day after adolescence.
Recent studies, however, have shown that people can fight back to stay sharp as they age. The trick involves stimulating the brain with new ideas and regular mental exercises. Just as physical workouts keep the heart and body healthy, mental gymnastics can increase brain fitness among the elderly.
Such workouts should be challenging yet also fun, says Dr. Gary Small, head of the UCLA Center on Aging and the chief scientific adviser to privately held Dakim.
"If you have enough of a fun factor involved, these programs will take hold," he said. "I tell my patients to train, but don't strain, your brain."
Reading, doing crossword puzzles, traveling and other active pastimes work better than passive activities such as watching TV. Researchers have also found that brain teasers, memory games and similar challenges strengthen mental fitness.
One study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who participated frequently in brain stimulation tasks had a 63% lower risk of dementia than others.
Cognifit's Mindfit program offers a series of word games and math puzzles which the company bills as a "mental Stairmaster." The goal is to improve attention skills, memory, learning and decision-making. The software package sells for $149 per disc, or $139 when downloaded from the Cognifit Web site.
Core Mind Builder is another program that uses quizzes and games to build abstract and logical reasoning powers. A professional version of the product includes tests to enhance one's career path. Core Mind Builder retails for $19.95, and the Pro version sells for $39.95.
Santa Monica, Calif.-based Dakim packages the (m)Power cognitive fitness system in a touch-screen box. This format does away with the need for a mouse or keyboard.
The (m)Power system serves up a changing menu of puzzles and word scrambles. It also uses movie clips and songs from the early 20th century to activate youthful memories in elderly users. Dakim's box costs $6,000 for shared use in retirement communities. Later this year, Dakim plans to sell home units for $2,500 each.
Lumos Labs offers cognitive exercises over the Internet. A Lumosity subscription sells for $9.95 per month, or $79.95 per year. Users log on to a Web site to take 30 separate sessions that last 10 minutes each.
"You can teach people memory techniques that improves memory performance," Small said. "So there's still hope for Baby Boomers who keep losing their keys."
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Comment by derek
System Attic
Comment by Jessicca
Health 2 Know
Learning Something Everyday
Daily History
Malaysia Found
It's pretty fun and I try to do exercise of my brain as often as I can but I do know that if you team up physical exercise and "mind exercising games" you'll realise your reflexes are a lot sharper too! ^_^
Wonderful signature tune you've got there!
Have a blessed day!
Jessicca
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks