NEWS: Lowdown on Brain Fitness Programs
I am a strong supporter of these Brain Fitness Programs.
Lots of people wonder how I'm able to memorize dates and have really good memory recall. It's all tied to numbers and birthdates.
The easiest trick is to associate a Celebrity's Birthday with what you want to remember. If you want to remember anniverasry, visit IMDB and find out what actor was born that day. You'll get better memory recall.
Some people think all the numbers and calculations are "pointless" or serve no purpose, but it keeps your brain sharp.
On a side note, the article cites Nicole Kidman born 6/20 for WV. I'm born 5/29 for RI and WI :)
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Lowdown on Brain Fitness Programs
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What does Hollywood star Nicole Kidman have in common with Nintendo? CNET reports that in 2007 she started appearing in European TV ads for Nintendo’s Brain Age -- a brain fitness program - and praised the product’s ability to keep her mind agile. Kidman was only 40 at the time of this ad, which goes to show that cognitive fitness is beneficial, as some studies claim, to anyone older than their late-20s.
Discover magazine also reported in March 2009 that by 2007, sales of brain fitness programs soared to $80 million, signaling a trend that is gaining popularity.
The allure is simple: Exercise your brain the way you would exercise your body, and it will reciprocate in kind with improved memory and alertness.
This message has been at the core of the multimillion-dollar brain fitness industry, which has scientists scrambling to find out if indeed the benefits of mental stimulation are what they claim to be.
Though there are some naysayers who claim these programs are ineffective in the long term, there are a number of studies that show they help improve cognitive skills. One CogniFit study showed that dyslexic students improved their reading skills with a CogniFit program. And UCSF researchers, working in liaison with Posit Science (which produces brain fitness programs), found that older adults improved their visual memory as a result of one of Posit Science’s programs.
What to look for
SharpBrains, a market research firm that specializes in the brain fitness program market, recommends users refer to certain criteria when selecting a brain fitness program, the most important of which is to make sure that noted scientists are behind the development of these programs. In addition, SharpBrains recommends users find out exactly what the program offers, its specific goals, and how a user’s progress is actually calculated. As more companies jump on the brain fitness bandwagon, we decided to sort through a few of the better-recognized programs:
CogniFit Personal Coach: Some computer activity has been known to help boost brain activity, particularly amongst boomers, the elderly and preschoolers. This scientifically validated software can help you think faster and improve your memory skills. CogniFit Personal Coach offers a personal assessment of your cognitive abilities, such as memory, perception and more. It then provides a customized training regimen requiring just 20 minutes, 3 days per week. The cognitive training then targets specific areas that require improvement.
The goal of CogniFit Personal coach is to enhance your cognitive skills to conduct everyday activities more efficiently and quickly. AOL also offers a special offer of 25% off the original price for CogniFit Personal Coach.
CogniFit Senior Driver: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration numbers show that in 2008, 183,000 seniors were involved in crashes. Although accident fatality rates for seniors have dropped recently, seniors are still at risk behind the wheel. Enter CogniFit Senior Driver, an online program that, through a series of exercises, can help seniors become sharper and more attentive when driving. CogniFit Senior Driver addresses specific driving needs, such as focus, divided attention, visual scanning and hand-eye coordination.
Brain Age: This one was inspired by a Japanese neuroscientist and features mathematical problems and literary passages that should be read aloud. One of the most popular brain fitness games around, Brain Age has also garnered mentions in USAToday.com and CNN.com.
Posit Science Brain Training Products: Posit Science is one of the leading brain fitness program developers and producers, with various products including auditory and visual programs, as well as software to help improve driving skills. It was Posit Science’s InSight program that UCSF researchers found helped improve working memory in older adults. In addition, their auditory program claims to help you better remember and engage in conversations and improve your memory significantly.
Dakim Brain Fitness: Founded in 2001, Dakim’s has found success in a large number of elderly care facilities, where health professionals encourage their residents to use the Dakim programs. According to Dakim, their program can help patients with mild forms of dementia.
-- Tara Taghizadeh --
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