| Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains | | | | symptoms would be adjusted to reflect our "new" |
| Many people have been asking us recently about | | | | brain age. And that the evolution of our cognitive |
| whether we all have a "Brain Age" and how we can | | | | abilities over the rest of our lives would reflect our |
| reduce our "brain ages". This concept is a myth, fueled | | | | new-found "brain age". |
| by the (very fun) Nintendo game and a recent PBS | | | | Has this been shown? |
| campaign promoting a program produced by Posit | | | | Unfortunately, not. The "10 years" claim seems based |
| Science. | | | | on one published study, and several unpublished ones, |
| The concept of having a "brain age" is, itself, | | | | where individuals with an average age of around 70 |
| profoundly unscientific, despite the radio ads for the | | | | years take on a very intense auditory processing |
| PBS program titled Brain Fitness Program, where | | | | training program that enables them to improve related |
| listeners of all ages get the impression (as many | | | | auditory cognitive skills by a significant percentage. |
| friends and colleagues have reported) that, should they | | | | Whereby, on average, and on those specific skills, they |
| buy the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program, they can | | | | reach a level comparable to people 60 years old. |
| expect their brains "rejuvenated" by 10 years. This, I | | | | But this doesn't say anything about other cognitive |
| hear often, must be true, coming from PBS. | | | | skills. Or Alzheimer's related risks. Or the cognitive |
| Unfortunately, it isn't. And it isn't because the claim is | | | | trajectories that will follow. |
| founded on the same faulty premise of having a "brain | | | | Just think about this: if, by attending an intensive tennis |
| age". | | | | camp, you were able to serve at a level comparable |
| What is going on? | | | | to people 10 years younger than your age...would you |
| First, the good news. Today we know today that the | | | | say that your body is now 10 years younger? |
| brain retains lifelong plasticity (the ability to change itself | | | | Probably not. You'd say that now you play tennis |
| through experience). Aging does not mean automatic | | | | better. Which is a significant benefit in itself if that's |
| decline. | | | | what you are after. |
| Furthermore, we know that a variety of lifestyle | | | | Recent studies have shown a tremendous variability in |
| factors, including physical and mental exercise, can | | | | how well people age and how, to a large extent, our |
| influence how our mental abilities evolve as we age. | | | | actions influence our rate of brain improvement and/or |
| We can delay or slow down age-related decline. Not | | | | decline. The earlier we begin the better. And it is never |
| only that, we can improve our abilities, and a number of | | | | too late. |
| computer-based programs have shown how they can | | | | What can we do to maintain our brain? Focus on four |
| help specific groups of people train and enhance | | | | pillars of brain health: physical exercise, a balanced diet, |
| specific cognitive skills. | | | | stress management, and brain exercise. Stress |
| Now, what is important to recognize is that there is not | | | | management is important since stress has been |
| one overall "brain age". We can view our brain | | | | shown to actually kill neurons and reduce the rate of |
| functions or cognitive abilities as a variety of skills, | | | | creation of new ones. Brain exercises range from |
| some more perception-related, some more | | | | low-tech (i.e. meditation, mastering new complex skills, |
| memory-related, some more language-related, some | | | | lifelong learning and engagement) to high-tech (i.e. using |
| more visual, some more abstract-thinking and planning | | | | the growing number of brain fitness software |
| oriented. All science-based brain fitness products in the | | | | programs). |
| market today target specific cognitive skills. The | | | | In summary, the great news is that there are more |
| research that has been published shows how specific | | | | tools available than ever before to assess and train a |
| brain functions can be improved. But there is no | | | | variety of cognitive skills, in what is still today a very |
| general "brain age" that can be measured or trained in | | | | small, but growing market. Nintendo, Posit Science, and |
| a meaningful way. | | | | others are offering valuable products and services. |
| Let's analyze the PBS Posit Science-related message: | | | | The bad news (is this really news?) is that we |
| you can rejuvenate your brain by 10 years. What | | | | shouldn't be expecting magic pills and that "brain age" is |
| would this mean, were it to be true? perhaps that ALL | | | | a fiction. |
| cognitive abilities would go back to where they were | | | | In case you wonder...I do have and enjoy my copy |
| 10 years before. and that this would happen for | | | | Nintendo Brain Age, and appreciate it as a stimulating |
| individuals of all ages: in our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and | | | | game. I simply don't outsource my brain fitness to Dr. |
| so on. It would also mean that, given that rejuvenated | | | | Kawashima... |
| "brain age", our risk of developing Alzheimer's | | | | |