Halt memory loss with brain games

Neurons in the brain

You may have noticed that my blog is sometimes sponsored by companies that provide “brain games” for the purpose of minimizing memory loss and even improving memory. I allow this because my training and teaching experience in the field of psychology have convinced me that mental exercise is an effective way to minimize the effects of aging on memory.

The recent Bronx Aging Study shows that participating in activities that stimulate the brain can delay memory decline, even in older people. None of those who participated in the study had dementia when they began. During the study they reported how often they participated in six mentally stimulating activities: reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing a card game, participating in a group discussion, or playing music.

Researchers followed up on these folks for a period of five years. The more mentally active a person was, the longer it took for memory decline to occur. On average, each day of mental activity resulted in a 36 day delay in the onset of memory loss. A person who participated in 11 activities per week enjoyed 1.29 years of healthy memory compared to the person who participated in only four activities per week.

Of course, many of the activities that enhance healthy memory during later years can be done for free. It would be reasonable to ask why a person would want to spend even a few dollars a month to subscribe to a service that provided such activities. Perhaps the best answer to that question is another question: what are you doing now to enhance your mental health as you grow older? What are your loved ones doing now?

Millions of people spend billions of dollars to join health clubs, gyms and other programs that provide them with incentives to participate in physical exercises that they would not do otherwise. In addition, they leave their homes and drive their cars to locations at which they do the same things they could do at home. Subscriptions to brain enhancing services are not only less expensive than health club fees, but take less time and can, for the most part, be done with a computer at home.

In short, I accept the sponsorship of companies that provide memory improvement services because I believe in them. Many of us are aware of news reports indicating that living to 100 will soon be commonplace.  At the same time, we live in fear of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia.  Exercising the brain is not just another aging theory. These exercises work, and they are affordable.  Most all of us are interested in anti aging strategies, and this is a good one!  If you have comments or questions, you can send them to me by using the comment form below.

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Tagged as: Aging, Alzheimer's Disease, Brain, Brain Health, Dementia, Games, health, living to 100, memory, Memory Improvement, Memory Loss, Mental health, Psychology