The Dakim Brain Fitness Program: Sometime's Memories Fade

"Why am I here?"

"Where is my car?"

These questions could be a sign of stress or something far more serious. For many of us, it does mean we are just doing too much and all at the same time. But unfortunately, for many of us, or a loved one, it is a sign of a memory disorder or the beginning of a full blown case of Alzheimer's disease.

Is there something that can help delay the permanent effect of a mind going and not coming "back"?

Yes, actually there is a drug that is known to help slow the complete dementia associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. But there is also more that the patient and their caretaker(s) can do.

What is it? The Dakim Brain Fitness Unit. For the details on what it is, how it works and what it can do the I talked to the founder and co-creator of the program, Dan Michel, and went to one of Orange County, California's senior living centers to watch a resident using the Unit.

What exactly is the Dakim Brain Fitness Unit or (m)power?

Michel: It's a very personal project for me. My father had Alzheimer's for 13 years and I was his caretaker. I watched him go steadily downhill mentally and I just knew there had to be something to help those with memory issues. No matter how slight or how advanced.

The meaning behind the name of (m)power is it is intended to communicate that the product is designed to "empower" seniors and their caregivers to use rigorous cognitive stimulations to fight the development of dementia.

I personally felt so strong about this program that I started this company. I hired Dr. Gary Small, director of the Center on Aging and Memory Research at UCLA in 2001 to help create this technique. We then put it out to use in senior living centers or even for home use. My wife and I used our house as collateral-this is how much I believe in what this program has to offer.

Today, Dakim, Inc and (m) power is the #1 brand of brain fitness products in America's Senior Living Communities. This is according to the Alzheimer's Organization. In Orange County-The Regency Living Centers are all very impressed with what it has done for their residents according to Megan Wood, activities director for the Avalon The Regency in Laguna Woods. The Avalon is one of 18 communities owned by Vintage Senior Living that uses the program. It is also used in over 170 other senior living communities across America.

Wood said that her facility has about 20 seniors who sign up to use the system anywhere from 3-7 days a week. According to Wood, they've never had someone not keep coming back several times a week to see what will be put on the program to do the next day or their next session.

"One lady in particular was having a very tough time adjusting to living in Laguna Woods. She wasn't talking to anyone or taking part in any of the various classes. Then she started doing the program and her entire out looked changed. She started seeking others out and now really enjoys her life in the center."

One of the residents at Avalon The Regency, Billie Bomhoff, was kind enough to show me how the unit worked and shared her opinions about it.

"It's fun and I know my memory has really improved. I couldn't remember very many numbers and now I can do pretty well when I get to that part of that day's game plan. Plus I love the trivia questions-I get to remember some very fun things"

How does it actually work, what is it? It is a monitor with the program installed within it, but the senior doesn't need to worry about being able to type, use a mouse or any other technical ability-it's strictly done on a "touch screen". So while it looks like a computer, it is much easier for a person with memory issues to navigate.

According to Michel the program is designed to be used consistently to help seniors build a cognitive reserve to prevent or slow down the development of dementia.

By using a series of "era" appropriate subjects in games such as remembering words to a song, stars of movies, types of cars or historical events, as well as number sequences (done to the mambo no less) the seniors have a fun time playing and therefore want to keep coming back to do more.

There are six areas or domains that are in each session: long and short term memory, language, computation, visuospatial orientation and critical thinking. There are 5 levels of challenge, but none so difficult that the user becomes frustrated and wants to quit.

The program is updated every single night at midnight, so that also keeps the motivation to come back at a very high rate.

Megan Wood says for the most part, she keeps the program level in the middle, unless the user says something is too easy or if she sees someone getting frustrated, then she makes the very easy adjustment. She stated that she finds that the program has even helped her with her own memory! Michel says the program is meant to self-adjust as the user proceeds from one area to another.

According to Deborah O'Connor, Director of Program Services Care Consultant for the Orange County chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, this disease is one of the fastest spreading problems in the world today with someone getting the diagnosis every 72 seconds. By age 85 half of the population is afflicted to some level.

This is a frightening number which, in reality, could be cut down by doing simple good health care techniques: getting 20-30 minutes a day of exercise, watching one's weight, cholesterol numbers and taking care of diabetes and heart health.

Being a caretaker can be a frustrating and lonely position to be in, the Alzheimer's Association does have a 24/ hot line available for support and advice.