author alice

Posts Tagged ‘Brain’

Copyright (c) 2008 Sharp Brains

A series of recent coverage of our brain and “brain training” reflects a growing interest in natural, non-pharmacological interventions to keep our brains sharp as we age. This interest is very timely, as the aging population, increasing Alzheimer’s rates, and rising health care costs, put more value than ever on prevention and changing lifestyle.

to investigate last Tuesday, sponsored by the MIT Club of Northern California, the American Society on Aging and Smart Silvers, an event to the emergence Brain Fitness Software Market: Building Brains better to the realities and myths of this region growing. Before the Panel, I had the opportunity to study the current state of software market brain fitness.

Why are we talking about in this area at all? Well, for one, a growing number of companies to achieve significant commercial success in packaging “brain” of. An example is the line of Nintendo games like Brain Age and Brain Training, which has delivered more than 15 million units worldwide despite limited scientific support, since 2005. What is less obvious is that in a number of scientific societies and put products on the market with solid clinical validation. We believe that the U.S. market was 225 million dollars in 2007 (an increase of $ 100 in 2005). Although education K12 are used for the largest segment of adult consumers are responsible for most of this growth we believe the consumer segment grew from a few million in 2005 to 80 million in 2007.

People who buy this product? Yes, of course, many adults over 50 who want to protect her memory of the pioneers. 78 million baby boomers are anxious to try new approaches. A growing number of retirement communities and nursing homes have programs for their residents to their normal physical condition and social activities to develop. And we must not forget the K12 Education: Some packages of the brain fitness software have shown they can help children with dyslexia and related difficulties.

Is there any science behind these claims? Do these products? It depends how we define “work”. If “working” means measurable improvements in the short term improvement after a number of weeks of systematic training of brains “on some cognitive abilities, then the answer is that a number of programs seems to work. If the other side of the “service”, measurable long-term benefits such as better general health of the brain with age and lower incidence of Alzheimer’s symptoms, the answer is that circumstantial evidence suggests they may but it is too early to tell.

Are there implications for public policy? We believe it is safe. The Center for Disease Control recently partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association, an overall roadmap of cognitive health to better guide research efforts to develop and improve public education on lifestyle issues that could benefit everyone proud owner of a brain from below. Given the high rate of traumatic brain injuries and stress disorders in a number of men and women returning from the war in Iraq, the military invests heavily in research to help identify problems, develop tools to solve them, and we expect that research will result in greater health applications. No presidential candidate, to our knowledge that directly addressed its priorities in the field of cognitive health, but given the growing importance and economic impact of brain disorders, we expect that to happen soon.

What are the trends that executives and investors, it should be understood in this growing market? Let me say a few predictions:

1) put more emphasis on maintenance of the brain, retirement communities to gyms and health clubs. Coaches health clubs one day offer fitness programs brain, and perhaps brain? We think so.

2) better and more heavily on assessments of cognitive function of all of us make an objective basis for how our mind to develop, establish new priorities for the “training” and lifestyle, and help us to measure progress. Science fiction? Not really. There are already very good tests in clinical and medical environments are used, the challenge will be to refine these estimates and the package in a manner favorable to consumers.

3) We will see more and better tools, each of which may be working better on certain priorities. How can we find a large number of machines in health clubs today in the future, we can expect more programs to train specific cognitive abilities.

4) More non-computer tools also provide a great value. He is looking more and more about how meditation and cognitive therapy, to name just two examples, can be very effective in parts of the brain literally ReWire.

5) incentives for insurance will be created for Member States wishing to follow fitness programs brain. Perhaps even companies offering such programs to attract and retain employees, former employees who have access to the best and want to keep the latest innovations in their minds awake.

Now that is a relatively new field, many questions remain. For example, How to consumers and institutions will receive high quality information and education to navigate through research and emerging countries the overwhelming number of new programs, separating hype from reality

In summary? What were the main event aways

First Research shows that a range of cognitive abilities (attention, memory …) can be assessed and trained

A second growing market is developing more and more an estimated $ 100 million in 2005 to $ 225 million in 2007 in the United States alone and is ready to continue to grow at a considerable price.

3rd Many companies are currently selling products directly to consumers (as well as institutions), with some inaccurate statements – are likely to confuse consumers and a major obstacle to growth and industry credibility.

If you are interested in this rapidly growing area, please stay tuned! There are exciting research reports each month.

I recently offered free copies of my new book on brain health in return for consideration. Guess what. . . over 70% of respondents were women. A surprising result. . . ? No, not really!

Compared to men. . .

Women are more willing to seek help and not afraid to admit they do not understand something. Research on women like to gather information and know the facts. Women are less likely to want quick fixes and much more willing to ask what it takes to get the result they get. Overall, women seem much more sensible and braver than most men when it comes to confronting and solving health problems! Come.

After all is said, that women the right to more worries about the health of the brain than men? I think the answer is yes!

brain size. . .

brain size is an important consideration in assessing the risk of mental disorders among women as they age.

The average size of the brain is lower for women than for men, but both have a similar cognitive ability. An explanation of the similarity in offers mental performance, the fact that cells in the brain of a woman more dense in the area of the brain for processes such as sentencing, planning and certain types of memory. .

But over the years women remove brain cells at a faster rate than men, so that in old age, there is little difference in the density of brain cells. but differences in brain size remains – which may reflect the greater incidence of mental health problems among women.

Obviously, this could be one of the most important factors that women live longer than men and that allows more time for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to develop.

Among the other factors. . .

But there are other factors that are as powerful and much more directly. These include the fact that women are more likely than men to suffer physical and sexual abuse, problems in marriage and with children, reproductive problems and the risk of poverty are to be met. All these experiences to highlight the occasion, and it is known that chronic stress caused significant damage to the brain.

But the effect is not all. . .

Constraints faced by women stress not only an opportunity, but it may also jeopardize the ability of women to take steps for their brain health through initiatives such as motion, regular sexual harmony, deep sleep routine, the professional development and self-improvement programs to protect. No wonder that, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, women are twice as often affected than men by most forms of depression and anxiety disorders, and nine times more often by eating disorders.

So what we can do. . . ? Many!

Recent brain research has shown that if you can take steps for the state of your brain, improving and strengthening the links between them, they significantly reduce the risk of mental deterioration occurs or when it started, you can work, slow progress. . . perhaps even reverse it! Imagine, for the rest of your life, every day new greeting – any challenge – each new project with courage and confidence.

Recent studies show that exercise can enhance performance by stimulating the brain’s memory and cognitive processing speed. In addition, scientists have discovered that the human brain is not only capable of renewing itself, but that exercise speeds the process

However, there are other factors that are equally important. These include: posture, breathing, adequate sleep, sexual activity, reduce stress, to challenge directly the brain and visual acuity of the senses. As the year comes to these factors in an integrated program of health benefits for the brain are assembled together. This revolutionary program is entitled “How to Rewire your brain that you FREE