Military Officer - August 2008 - (Page 65)

QUICK BRAIN EXERCISES: Seek out computer games that are fun, novel, and complex and play for 10-15 minutes a day. Keep track of your scores. Once you’ve mastered a game, move on to another. brains, they become excited, because they fear Alzheimer’s.” How can you strengthen your brain? Nussbaum cites ﬁve areas science suggests have the potential to slow or forestall the effects of aging. ■ Regular physical activity. Any ex- sical instruments, or playing a board game qualiﬁes. “It’s all about the new and complex,” Nussbaum says. “Cognitively challenged brains build up reserves of new connections.” Once you no longer are challenged by Sudoku puzzles, continuing to solve them can be fun, but it is not necessarily brain-enhancing. Interestingly, some autopsies have revealed full-blown Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the brains of people who showed few symptoms while living. Often these were people with higher education and complex QUICK BRAIN EXERCISES: Develop ambidexterity. Brush your teeth, do your crossword puzzle, or stir your coffee with your nondominant hand. occupations who were physically and socially active all their lives. Scientists theorize they had more cellular connections in their brains, hence larger cognitive reserves. “Put it this way,” says Nussbaum. “We want our brains to look like a jungle, not an island with a single palm tree.” So how do we nurture a jungle brain? The new buzzword is “brain ﬁtness,” and there is a rapidly evolving brain-ﬁtness industry focusing primarily on computer-based games and activities. “There is so much information out there — often confusing information,” says Alvaro Fernandez, CEO of SharpBrains.com, who teaches a course titled “The Science of Brain Health and Brain Fitness” at several San Francisco-area universities. “Some companies have been founded by serious scientists whose primary motivation is to help people, but other companies are making or implying claims about brain improve- ercise strengthening your heart also beneﬁts your brain. Dancing, gardening, bicycling, hiking, walking, golﬁng, tennis, swimming — any activity that sustains an elevated heart rate — is recommended at least three times a week. ■ Socialization. Studies show isolat- ed individuals have a higher risk of dementia. Stay involved with friends and family or consider volunteering in your community. ■ Diet. Don’t overeat. Obesity predisposes people to dementia. Studies show beneﬁts from the consumption of the “good” omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, walnuts, and ﬂaxseed and from foods high in antioxidants, such as deep-colored fruits and vegetables. ■ Spirituality. Chronic stress and ment with little research focus and a primary motivation to cash in.” To organize information, Fernandez helped create a Web site focusing on the growing body of cognitive health research. “We designed SharpBrains to be an unbiased portal to all this knowledge,” Fernandez explains. “The exciting thing is that a number of programs show measurable improvements in cognitive skills.” Although he cautions there is no proof that these activities do, in fact, lower the incidence of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, circumstantial evidence suggests they can. “We don’t know how it happens or how long changes last,” agrees Wagster, “but even in the face of these unanswered questions, there is the chance to maintain our cognitive function.” MO ONLINE RESOURCES: There are many Web sites related to brain fitness. Sharp Brains, www.sharpbrains .com, offers well-organized information including studies about memory, articles by experts, games to play, specific guidelines for evaluating brain-training software, links to other Web sites, and a free monthly electronic newsletter. Other helpful sites include: www.brainready.com www.gamesforthebrain.com www.brainmetrix.com www.braingle.com AUGUST 2008 anxiety accelerate both physical and mental aging. Studies in the emerging ﬁeld of “neurotheology” have shown effective antidotes in the regular observance of both formal religion and informal practices such as relaxation, meditation, and tai chi. ■ Mental stimulation. Traveling, learning a new language, playing mu- MILITARY OFFICER 65 http://www.sharpbrains.com http://www.sharpbrains.com http://www.brainready.com http://www.gamesforthebrain.com http://www.brainmetrix.com http://www.braingle.com

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Military Officer - August 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor MOAA Member Services Cover Story: A Stronger Voice Virtual Combat Mental Floss Steady as She Goes Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Scholarship Donors Encore

Military Officer - August 2008

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