As we age, our physical needs change and it becomes increasingly more important to take care of our overall health. However, taking care of ourselves now includes things we may not have considered in the past, like brain fitness - the idea of working our mental muscles keep our minds sharp.
One of the more well-known, and heart-breaking diseases associated with aging is Alzheimer's disease. This disease, which destroys brain cells and affects memory, thinking and behavior, is the seventh leading cause of death in the nation and steadily increasing. Experts suggest that by the year 2050, the number of individuals age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease could range from 11 to 16 million.
While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, increasing scientific evidence shows that actively participating in appropriately designed brain fitness workouts can defer the onset of this disease and other signs of aging on the brain. "Use it or lose it" applies to muscles in our bodies as well as to neural pathways and connections in our brains and scientists all over the world agree that the evidence is now overwhelming: mental stimulation boosts brain power. Numerous landmark studies have found that engaging in quick calculations and appropriately designed brain fitness workouts can help keep our minds sharp and several existing studies cite challenging, interactive games as one effective method to keeping the brain challenged and agile.
One leader in providing brain-boosting programs is Happy Neuron, a Web site dedicated to providing mental workouts that are challenging, fun and beneficial. According to the results from a six-month pilot study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Happy Neuron has been shown to delay the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's and defer the effects of aging on the brain - great news for the aging population.
Similar to how one doesn't train just one area of the body when trying to stay physically fit, it is it important to stimulate more than just one area of the brain. While crossword puzzles and other brain teasers do their part to keep the brain active, they generally only stimulate one area of the brain. Happy Neuron online games, found at happyneuron.com, cross-train your brain to give you a full mental workout. Developed by neurologist Dr. Bernard Croisile and cognitive psychologist, Dr. Michel Noir, Happy Neuron online brain games were designed to target all five of the main cognitive functions: memory, attention, language, executive functions and visual/spatial.
Just how it's important to keep track of progress when getting in physical shape, the virtual coach at Happy Neuron gauges user progress and mental milestones, just as a personal trainer would at the local gym. The virtual coach compares game results to people of a similar age, gender and education and guides users through the more than 32 online games of varying difficulty to make the best use of time and provide the best mental workout possible.
With expected longevity gains in the U.S. and the first wave of the 78 million baby boomers now reaching 60, it's important to remember that mental fitness is an integral part of our entire lives and it's never too soon to get started. While eating right and staying physically fit to be healthy is important, be sure to also engage in regular mental workouts to keep your mind sharp.
For more information on Happy Neuron, visit www.happy-neuron.com
Comments
#1 Absolutely right. Generally
Absolutely right. Generally we are more concerned about our physical health and tend to ignore brain’s fitness, which is as essential as physical fitness. In fact for the ageing people it’s more important to be mentally fit than physically.
As mentioned by Laura in the article there are many software, puzzles or programs available which can be used for to improve mental fitness. I use a brain fitness program known as “Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro”, unlike most of the brain development program it stimulates all the parts of the brain by making them involve in various activities at the same time. We are supposed to take training on this software for 30-40 minutes daily. I have I have noticed a considerable improvement in my concentration level in last 17-18 days. More details about the software can be found on the website:
Thanks….