Many people have been asking us recently about whether we every have a "Brain Age" and how we can cut our "brain ages". This concept is a myth, fueled by the (very fun) Nintendo game and a recent PBS mix up promoting a program produced by Posit Science. The concept of having a "brain age" is, itself, profoundly unscientific, as we will pretense in this article.
Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains
Many people have been asking us recently practically whether we every have a "Brain Age" and how we can cut our "brain ages". This concept is a myth, fueled by the (very fun) Nintendo game and a recent PBS work up promoting a program produced by Posit Science.
The concept of having a "brain age" is, itself, profoundly unscientific, despite the radio ads for the PBS program titled Brain Fitness Program, where viewers of every ages acquire the sky (as many contacts and colleagues have reported) that, should they buy the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program, they can expect their brains "rejuvenated" by 10 years. This, I hear often, must be true, coming from PBS.
Unfortunately, it isn't. And it isn't because the allegation is founded upon the same faulty premise of having a "brain age".
What is going on?
First, the fine news. Today we know today that the brain retains lifelong plasticity (the execution to alter itself through experience). Aging does not try automatic decline.
Furthermore, we know that a variety of lifestyle factors, including being and mental exercise, can distress how our mental abilities innovation as we age. We can put off or slow down age-related decline. Not lonesome that, we can affix our abilities, and a number of computer-based programs have shown how they can assist specific groups of people train and tally up specific cognitive skills.
Now, what is important to tolerate is that there is not one overall "brain age". We can view our brain functions or cognitive abilities as a variety of skills, some more perception-related, some more memory-related, some more language-related, some more visual, some more abstract-thinking and planning oriented. every science-based brain fitness products in the publicize today take aim specific cognitive skills. The research that has been published shows how specific brain functions can be improved. But there is no general "brain age" that can be measured or trained in a meaningful way.
Let's analyze the PBS Posit Science-related message: you can rejuvenate your brain by 10 years. What would this mean, were it to be true? perhaps that every cognitive abilities would go urge on to where they were 10 years before. and that this would happen for individuals of all ages: in our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and appropriately on. It would as well as purpose that, unchangeable that rejuvenated "brain age", our risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms would be adjusted to reflect our "new" brain age. And that the development of our cognitive abilities higher than the rest of our lives would reflect our new-found "brain age".
Has this been shown?
Unfortunately, not. The "10 years" claim seems based upon one published study, and several unpublished ones, where individuals once an average age of roughly speaking 70 years undertake on a extremely intense auditory management training program that enables them to tally up related auditory cognitive skills by a significant percentage. Whereby, upon average, and upon those specific skills, they achieve a level comparable to people 60 years old.
But this doesn't tell all more or less extra cognitive skills. Or Alzheimer's associated risks. Or the cognitive trajectories that will follow.
Just think not quite this: if, by attending an intensive tennis camp, you were clever to assist at a level comparable to people 10 years younger than your age...would you say that your body is now 10 years younger? Probably not. You'd tell that now you ham it up tennis better. Which is a significant lead in itself if that's what you are after.
Recent studies have shown a tremendous variability in how with ease people age and how, to a large extent, our deeds concern our rate of brain early payment and/or decline. The earlier we start the better. And it is never too late.
What can we accomplish to maintain our brain? Focus upon four pillars of brain health: innate exercise, a balanced diet, play up management, and brain exercise. heighten executive is important since put emphasis on has been shown to actually slay neurons and edit the rate of initiation of extra ones. Brain exercises range from low-tech (i.e. meditation, mastering other puzzling skills, lifelong learning and engagement) to high-tech (i.e. using the growing number of brain fitness software programs).
In summary, the good news is that there are more tools understandable than ever previously to assess and train a variety of cognitive skills, in what is nevertheless today a very small, but growing market. Nintendo, Posit Science, and others are offering indispensable products and services.
The bad news (is this truly news?) is that we shouldn't be expecting magic pills and that "brain age" is a fiction.
In clash you wonder...I do have and enjoy my copy Nintendo Brain Age, and appreciate it as a stimulating game. I straightforwardly don't outsource my brain fitness to Dr. Kawashima...
Article Tags: Brain Fitness, Cognitive Abilities, Some More, Cognitive Skills
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