Myth: The decline in mental abilities associated with aging - such as memory loss, sluggish thinking, blocks in problem solving - are inevitable.

Key Info: In a major longitudinal study researchers reported "the pattern of decline of cognitive capabilities generally associated with advanced aging" was "neither extensive nor consistent", if the brain remains challenged.

The Data: Numerous major studies on aging over the past 25 years support the findings that mental (and physical) decline with aging in not inevitable. What can be done to preserve, even enhance, our mental fitnesss as we grow older? Not suprisingly, the same advice to achieve physical fitness applies to mental fitness, use it or lose it. Just as weight repetitions in the gym or jogging strengthen certain muscle groups, mental exercises appear to stregthen and enhance cognitive functions.

My Thoughts: Over the next week, I will outline strategies to strengthen various mental abilities. I will begin a series that recommends exercises that focus on building up abilities like perception, long and short term memory, and visuospatial, structuralization, logic and verbal abilities. These techniques of cerebral activation called "Brain Fitness".


Schedule time in each day to practice some "Brain Fitness" for peak performance.


The Official Tom Wilson



link: http://healthgate.partners.org/browsing/browseContent.asp?fileName=14618.xml&title=Mental%20Fitness:%20Exercises%20for%20The%20Brain