Brain-Games May Help Ward Off Dementia

Harry Hirsute · � #1 � 02-12-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Can we keep our cognitive abilities sharp by playing computer games such as the Nintendo Brain Age, Mindweavers’s MindFit or the Brain Fitness Program from Posit? The manufacturers are convinced we can, and have carried out several studies to try and prove the point.

In one study of 465 people aged over 65 years, the Brain Fit Program – mainly available in the US – helped the participants improve their auditory memory over an eight to 10 week period.

In a separate study of 121 elderly volunteers, the Mindfit game seemed to generally help cognitive abilities after 24 sessions compared to a standard computer game.

Both these studies are unpublished, and doctors who specialize in dementia are not convinced. Instead, they see mental decline as multi-factorial, with exercise, good health and an interest in life as being important ways of keeping it at bay.

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2008; 336: 246-8).

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Boss · � #2 � 04-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Mental decline, could in theory be related to certain non-conditional things like possible low or owered consumption of Healthy Fats, lack of exercise, excessive drinking etc etc, (as opposed to Strokes, Alzheimers etc etc), as stated there, but I think stimulating Mental activities, doesn't necessarily need to be done from specific mind based games as stated above.

There could be a logical train of thought, to suggest other such things like for example Sudoku, Chess, or even a sport like Darts, where someone has to keep a sharp maths Brain, in order to workout all the different combinations of trebles singles and doubles, you can throw to win a leg, set, or game, from say a possible 3 dart finish.

Hay even some Darts players, suggest Darts could be a good aid to numerical learning in schools.

Liegeman · � #3 � 04-14-2008, 04:28 PM

My great-grandfather lived to be nearly 103, he didn't get Alzheimer's until he was 101. His theory was always keep your mind active and your body will follow. I agree that they don't have to be brain games, but anything that keeps you thinking would probably show similar effects.

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