The “Brain Fitness Program” is the title of a PBS show that aired in December, 2007. There are a variety of brain fitness programs on the market, today, ranging in price from $19.99 for Nintendo’s “Brain Age 2” to $395 for Posit Science’s training program.

With so many different titles to choose from, how do you know which brain fitness program is right for you? You might want to start with some “freebies”. There are many on-line websites that offer brain teasers. If you like them, then you may want to “step-up” to the Nintendo game, if you own a player.

But, primarily, you want a complete plan. Think of it as a health plan for your brain.

As you exercise your body, you also need to exercise your “gray matter”. Regular physical activity is important, including regular aerobic activity 3-5 times per week. Regular physical activity keeps the blood flowing, improves circulation to the brain-cells. If you lead a completely sedentary lifestyle, you will become “duller and duller”.

None of the brain fitness programs that you buy in a box will provide everything that you need for continued mental clarity. Along with regular physical activity, you need a healthy diet.

Certain supplements are extremely beneficial. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, have been an integral part of scientifically controlled brain fitness programs for many years. Other supplements on the market include DMAE, but there is limited scientific research concerning the health benefits of the supplement.

If you are not taking a daily supplement at this time, start with fish oil, but make sure you choose carefully, since there is some “bad” stuff out there. Fish oil is the best source of DHA, the omega-3 fatty acid needed to support the brain’s health.

The next thing to work on is your stress level. Brains under stress do not remember things. They get distracted easily and simply cannot focus for long periods of time. Your complete brain fitness program should include regular meditation to reduce stress.

Once you have these things down, you can start looking for stimulating brain fitness programs. If you are going to buy something, it should be well-designed by a learned group of scientists.

Look for a brain fitness program that specifies the benefits you will receive if you use their system. For example, some brain fitness programs are designed to help improve your memory. Others to help improve concentration and still others that may help improve your overall IQ.

The best exercises for our brains are those that teach us something new, hopefully on a daily basis. If a system becomes boring, you aren’t learning anything new. But, if it’s too hard, it can increase your stress level. You should try to find a system that you enjoy, so that you are motivated to “play” and one that has increasingly difficult levels.

I just want to mention that PBS’s “Brain Fitness Program” is now available on DVD. The program gives an informative overview concerning the emerging science that shows that people do have the ability to grow new brain-cells and neurons. So, if you’re starting to lose your memory, there’s new hope.

 



By: Michael S. Logan, MS

About the Author:

The brain fitness gym has been serving the St. Louis area since 2006. Currently, it is the only organization of its kind in the United States, but you can use the gym’s self-coaching techniques anywhere in the world.

As time goes by, we may see more and more similar organizations, simply because of the growing number of seniors. We have the baby boomers to thank for that.

Those of us who have spent time doing marketing or sales have been told for the last 20 years that we needed to make plans for the boomers to turn 60. Now, many of them have, but the boom will continue for almost two more decades.

The brain fitness gym is a great service for seniors. They hold events and offer free evaluations and memory screenings, if you live in the St. Louis area. If not, you can still take advantage of their information and their exercise packages.

The “self-coach” package includes software to help you improve your memory and response time, as well as awareness and eye-hand coordination. A complete manual for self-assessment and daily life applications is also included.

There program is one of the better ones on the market, as it includes many personalized options for a price that is competitive with other software programs, such as Posit Science’s “cognitive behavioral training”.

You see the brain fitness gym designs programs with the assumption that you have already lost some of your cognitive abilities. They assume that you are suffering from memory loss, early Alzheimer’s or another problem that may accompany aging. For those of us that are simply trying to prevent this from occurring, there are other, less expensive options.

Ask yourself these questions. Are you physically active? Do you get enough essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants on a daily basis? How’s your diet? Do you eat enough raw fruits and vegetables? The recommended daily number of servings is five.

Do you make an effort to keep in touch with friends and/or family members? Maintaining social contact is important for cognizance, memory and to fight depression.

Are you learning something new? Researchers have shown that people who do not regularly play video games have improved memory and cognitive performance when they learn a new game.

At the brain fitness gym, they include similar activities, since many seniors were not a part of the video game “boom”. But, and this is important, the effects seen in clinical research may simply be due to the “newness” of the activity or the learning that is required.

In other words, if you don’t like video games or if you already play them, the answer may simply be learning something new. Take a class or read a book. Join a discussion group or do some volunteer work.

Practically anything that keeps your mind “active” will improve the function of your “gray matter”. The brain fitness gym is an option that you may want to consider. It’s just that there may be other options. The most important thing is to find something that you can enjoy, for life.

 



By: Michael S. Logan, MS

About the Author: