Cognitive Fitness and Brain Training on the Computer
A lot has been written (and televised) lately about computer software for brain training. It seems to me there a couple of key issues to consider when we talk about brain training and its relation to your brain’s health.
- Neural plasticity: This phrase refers to the ability of the brain to change in response to experience. In the past, many believed that the number of brain cells was fixed early in life and only got smaller as we got older. There was also skepticism about how much the way the nerve cells were wired could change. That has changed. Several studies have shown that the human brain can make new nerve cells (called “neurogenesis”). One study showed that the hippocampus of London taxi drivers changed its size and shape in response to learning about London streets. Another study showed that some parts of the brain may increase in size after learning how to juggle.
- Preventing Alzheimer’s disease: Does computer training prevent Alzheimer’s disease? What we know is that people who engage in mental, physical, and social activity are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But it’s a chicken and egg questions, since most of the research just shows the relation but not whether one is cause and one is effect. Maybe people who are developing Alzheimer’s are less likely to engage in stimulating activities.
- Improving cognitive function: This is a “no brainer” (sorry for the pun). Few people today believe the adage that “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” People of any age can learn new things, whether it’s a teenager learning how to drive a car or an 80-year-old learning how to use a computer, as Dr. Sara Czaja has shown in studies at the Center on Aging at the University of Miami. The big question isn’t whether we can improve cognitive functioning. We can. The real question is whether computer training will transfer to other real-world situations. So far, there’s very little information about that
So if you’re looking for a cognitive training program, we think the best idea is to have diagnostic testing like we do in the Miami Brain Fitness Program. It can help to pinpoint your areas of strength and weakness, and help you to learn what you should focus on in any kind of cognitive training activity.
