Mental Calisthenics

Many scientific tests have proven that mental exercises can boost brain function. Older people who do things to keep their wits sharp are less forgetful and experience fewer 'senior moments'.

With so many of the nation's population aging, and the incidence of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia rising, researchers say preventing mental deterioration from occurring in the first place will be crucial.

It is clear that the same strategies that cut the risks for strokes and heart attacks--lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, eating well-balanced meals, avoiding obesity and diabetes and exercising--protect the brain as well. Elderly people who start exercising regularly are sharper and experience growth in crucial brain areas.

Several studies have also shown that people who are more educated, have more intellectually-challenging jobs and engage in mentally stimulating activities like attending lectures, plays, concerts, play chess and read, and have other stimulating hobbies are much less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The reason behind this is suspected to be something called a "cognitive reserve". This is a reservoir of brain power that people can draw upon even if they suffer damaging silent strokes or protein deposits as seen in Alzheimer's disease.

It also appears that some people have brain networks that are more efficient than others. This greater capacity can compensate for disease so that when they are challenge by illness their brain networks continue to operate longer.

In one major study involving 2,800 elderly people, the subjects who received 10 brain-training lessons scored much better on thinking tests, and the effects lasted for at least three years. The training included strategies for improving reasoning skills, the processing of new information and memory, and tactics for remembering names.

Scientists suspect that people may benefit more from engaging in a rich diversity of stimulating activities rather than repeating the same task over and over. They believe the key is combining mental stimulation with social interaction. Also, stress and other negative emotions appear harmful to brain health.

Many interactive games, and now even computer games, are being designed to help build the brain's neural network to absorb and process information quickly and easily. These games are billed as 'tools for strengthening core mental capacities' and many of the computer games automatically set and adjust the levels of difficulty to challenge the player each time the game is played.

Foods Can Help with Brain Aging . . .

One study found that certain foods high in antioxidants appeared to be beneficial for brain aging, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Blueberries and cranberries are foods very high in antioxidants. Scientists believe blueberries and cranberries contain chemicals,that can protect the brain and lessen the consequences of brain damage.

Eating fish at least once a week slows the toll aging takes on the brain. Seafood contains Omega-3 fatty acids and fatty acids have been shown to boost brain functioning as well as cutting the risk of strokes. Eating seafood regularly appears to protect the brain as people age. In a study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, the rate of mental decline was reduced by 10 to 13 per cent per year in people who ate one or more servings of seafood per week compared to those with less weekly consumption. The rate reduction is the equivalent of being four years younger in age.

The herb, rosemary, is said to help prevent brain aging. A study done at Kyoto University in Tokyo, Japan, found that carnosic acid and caffeic acid, both found in rosemary, helps improve memory.

Even though the above strategies seem to work to help prevent the brain from aging, many experts acknowledge that getting large numbers of people to alter their daily lives to implement them remains daunting.