MEMORY MAXIMIZERS: HERE'S THE LATEST RESEARCH TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR BRAIN SHARP.
"Exergaming" May Help Improve Thinking, Memory Among Older AdultsWhile video games operated with handheld game controllers and no other real physical effort can be fun to play, the video games in which players have to exert some physical effort may be both fun and healthy for your brain. Video games that include player movement are called"exergames,"and they could have a role in helping some people reverse memory loss and improve their complex reasoning skills. In a report published in Frontiers in Aging Neuro-science, researchers found that people with mild cognitive impairment experienced improvements in several key brain functions after just six months of regular exergaming. MCI is a minor deterioration in thinking skills, and can be a precursor to dementia. In the study, one group of participants pedaled an exercise bicycle along a scenic virtual reality (VR) scene, while the other group pedaled while playing a game that involved animated dragons, collecting coins, and having other adventures. The group that pedaled the bicycles and played the adventure games simultaneously were much more likely to have better scores on tests of memory and cognitive function. Researchers are hopeful that caregivers, nursing home attendants, and others will take notice and incorporate more exergames into the lives of the people for whom they care. VR games are becoming more widely used in rehabilitation and therapeutic settings, both for people with conditions such as MCI and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as stroke survivors and others who could benefit from the games' physical and mental challenges. In the study, the older adults who played the game while exercising also achieved benefits in verbal memory and physical function, suggesting that exergames may be advisable as a regular part of any older adult's exercise regimen.
Healthy Diet May Help Preserve Brain Volume, Thinking and Memory Skills
People who regularly eat a diet composed mostly of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish may have larger brains than people who consume a less-healthy diet, according to a study published recently in Neurology, a journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study involved more than 4,200 people in the Netherlands (average age 66) who had no signs of dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sans of all the study participants were taken to measure brain volume. Participants also filled out lengthy and detailed questionnaires about their normal diet. Researchers found a link between a healthier diet and larger brain volume, taking into consideration head size. The researchers also adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking and physical activity. In addition to vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish, the best diets included whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy products, and very few, if any, sugary drinks. Brain volume and the quality of the diet were not driven by one particular food, but by broader food groups. Many interactions that take place as various nutrients enter and are metabolized by the body. Because the study was essentially a "snapshot" rather than a look at brain size changes over time, the role of diet as it relates to brain volume is still unclear. The researchers noted that the link between a healthy diet and larger brain volume is an association rather than any kind of cause-and-effect relationship. Still, there is no harm in incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet, as they provide a wide range of healthy benefits.
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