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Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Senior Citizens Improve Memory, Mental Abilities
with Right Brain Exercises
Presentation today to Gerontological Society says
'Brain Fitness Program' does trick
 Nov. 19, 2007 - The right kind of brain exercise
enhances memory and other cognitive abilities of older adults, according
to researchers presenting today at the 6oth annual meeting of the
Gerontological Society of America, a gathering of 3500 aging experts
held this week in San Francisco.
Dr. Elizabeth Zelinski of the University of
Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center presented data from the
IMPACT study (Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive
Cognitive Training) – the largest study ever done on aging and cognitive
training using a program available to the public.
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Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health |
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In this prospective, randomized, controlled, double
blind trial of 524 healthy adults (aged 65 and older), half the
participants completed up to 40 hours of the computer-based Posit
Science Brain Fitness Program. The other half, who followed the
traditional advice that older adults will benefit from new learning,
completed up to 40 hours of a computer-based educational training
program.
The group that engaged in the Posit Science program
showed significantly superior improvements in standardized clinical
measures of memory gains of approximately 10 years. This is the first
research study to show generalization to untrained standardized measures
of memory using a publicly available cognitive training program. The
Posit Science Brain Fitness Program is not a free program.
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"This clearly demonstrates that if healthy
older adults engage in the right kind of cognitive training
activities, they can enhance their cognitive abilities." |
Participants using the Posit Science program also
showed significant improvements in how they perceived their memory and
cognitive abilities. This included questions about every day tasks such
as remembering names and phone numbers or where they had left their keys
as well as communication abilities and feelings of self-confidence.
“The changes we saw in the experimental group were
remarkable – and significantly larger than the gains in the control
group” Dr. Zelinski said.
“From a researcher’s point of view, this was very
impressive – people got better at the tasks trained, those improvements
generalized to various standardized measures of memory, and people
perceived improvements in their lives.”
“My memory improved after I participated in the
study,” said Marlene Allen of Mill Valley, CA, a study participant. “I
also felt better and a lot more energized. I really had fun doing the
training.”
Dr. John Smith of San Anselmo, CA is a semi-retired
dentist, still working part-time. He finds that he functions well at
work and gives the program credit for his interactions there.
“I'm quicker to respond to questions and my memory
is better,” Smith said.
“We presented these important results at the Annual
Meeting of GSA, because aging experts need to spread the word that
cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging,” said Dr. Zelinski.
“Doing the properly designed cognitive activities
can actually enhance abilities as you age.”
“This is a very important study,” said Dr. Ron
Ruff, a member of the study’s Data Review Committee and a former
President of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, who is now on the
faculty at the University of California at San Francisco.
“This clearly
demonstrates that if healthy older adults engage in the right kind of
cognitive training activities, they can enhance their cognitive
abilities.
"This provides a prescription for what we should do as we
age.”
Editor's Notes
About Posit Science Corporation:
Posit Science Corporation develops science-based brain health programs.
The company works with more than 50 brain scientists from leading
universities around the world to create training programs that enhance
cognitive performance. Its assessments and exercises are based on
neuroplasticity – the brain's ability to "rewire" through intensive,
repetitive and progressively challenging activity. The company's Brain
Fitness Program is distributed without charge by Humana to its Medicare
Advantage members, is licensed to more than 150 retirement communities
nationwide, is sold online, and by Authorized Providers. Posit Science
has received several grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Posit Science was named "Best Small Company" by the American Society on
Aging, was named "Best Fitness Initiative" by the Consumer Health World
Conference and was selected as one of the "medical breakthroughs of the
year" by CNBC .Posit
Science Brain Fitness Program
The Gerontological Society of America is the nation's oldest and
largest multidisciplinary organization devoted to research, education,
and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society
- and its 5,000+ members - is to advance the study of aging and
disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the
general public. Complete Annual Meeting details are available at
www.agingconference.com.
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