
Photo: Jonathan Kemper, Unsplash
Surprisingly Traditional Activities Show Some Brain-Fitness Promise:
We’ve all heard it before. Do puzzles. Read more. Play games. Keep your mind active.
That search for ways to stay sharp as we age has led to everything from brain-training apps to a variety of supplements.
Is it all just Lumosity BS, or just something we tell ourselves to feel better about time spent doing crosswords?
Or, what if some of the most effective tools have been right in front of us all along?
Well, a team at Texas A&M decided to find out for sure.
And their research is uncovering some interesting evidence about the “Lumosity” angle after all…
The Short Answer:
- For awhile, it looked like brain-training sites & apps were BS.
- Lumosity even got in trouble for its claims.
- But still, some people seem to stay very sharp.
- A Tex. A&M study looked at about 6,000 adults with slight memory issues, aged at least 50, for 8 years.
- The results show traditional things like puzzles, reading, and games do help maintain mental sharpness.
- Regular participation improved general memory, working memory, and thinking speed.
- The eight years of data showed the effects last over time.
- The best results came from those doing activities at least 3-4 times per week.
- Those with moderate engagement showed better results than low participation.
- Higher engagement meant better maintenance of abilities.
- Previous studies also show musical training delivers powerful benefits.
- Some 60-year-olds matched the cognitive performance of people much younger in their 20s.
- Young chess players also showed dramatic improvements – up to 50% better in math and 20% in reading.
- Physical exercise like cardio is the most powerful brain-booster of all.
- It may not be too late for anyone to improve their brain-health with any of these.
Read on to find out the details…
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Are Surprisingly-Sharp Older People Just “Super-Agers”?:
Think about it. Just about everyone knows someone who’s sharp as a tack well into their later years.
Maybe they’re always reading, or they never miss their weekly game of bridge.
It turns out those personal observations might really be onto something.
-Because the Texas team looked at how often a set of participants engaged in different types of mentally-stimulating activities over time.
Weirdly enough,… this included people already experiencing some cognitive problems like memory issues.
Texas Team Finds Activities That Keep Your Brain Young Over Time:
They analyzed data on nearly 6,000 adults who also had MCI and were aged at least 50 in 2012 from a source called The Health & Retirement Study.
Their target was to find how different activities affected thinking skills over the eight years from 2012-2020.
In that work they looked at three key brain functions:
1) Memory
2) Working memory
3) How quickly people could process information
The results? Those who kept their minds busy with reading, game-playing, and other mentally active hobbies performed consistently better.
Even more interesting – you did not have to be a mental athlete to see the benefits!
People who participated even at medium levels still outperformed those who rarely engaged in these activities.
The Great Brain Training Debate! Separating Hype From Help:
What’s so interesting about those results besides the brain-fitness wins is this:
You’ve probably seen those brain training apps & sites that promise to make you smarter.
While some companies, like Lumosity, faced scrutiny over their marketing claims,
It turns out more traditional brain-exercises like reading and puzzles have stood the test of time.
Dr. Junhyoung Kim from Texas A&M puts it simply, “People who stayed highly engaged with these activities maintained better brain function than those who didn’t.”
The best part? These benefits showed up consistently across the entire eight-year study.
Bach To Basics! Music Training Packs A Punch, Too:
But wait – there’s more to this story.
Other researchers found that musical training might be one of the most powerful brain-boosters out there.
A study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered something remarkable.
Musicians in their mid-60s could match 23-year-olds in certain cognitive tasks.
And here’s the kicker – even complete beginners between 60 and 90 showed memory improvements after trying basic musical improvisation! WHAAAAAT???
One Of The Oldest Games We Have Is No Slouch Either:
The 750-year-old game of Chess also tells a similar story.
In another study on Chess Club kids with respect to standardized test scores,
Students of all IQ-levels who played regularly didn’t just get better at the game.
Their math skills jumped by as much as 30-50%, with reading comprehension improving by up to 20%.
So whether it’s online, smartphone app, or in-person-social, the multiple-disciplines of Chess look like a fabulous brain-workout.
Mind+Body. Sorry Elvis, But Physical Exercise Is Still The King:
Contrary to many people’s opinions that gym-rats are a bit dim,
It turns out moving your body matters just as much as mental exercise,
And the Spandex crowd is in a lot better shape all-around than you might think!
Research shows that running and other cardio workouts can boost brain cell growth in memory centers up to ten times the normal rate!
In another research piece, Finnish scientists also compared different types of exercise.
While both steady cardio and high-intensity training (HIIT) helped grow new brain cells, traditional cardio came out on top.
And because of the beneficial brain-chemicals released during those workouts, those new cells stick around instead of being pruned-away.
There’s Still Time To Make It Work For Your Own Brain Health:
Here’s what makes this research so encouraging.
The online brain-training guys were right after-all! -They just didn’t pick the right games.
The activities that been shown to help the most are ones people have enjoyed for generations.
When they refer to “medium” or “high”, the A&M research suggests about 3-4 sessions per week of activities like reading, puzzles, or games.
Now if you combine that with some regular cardio, you’re really doing your brain a favor!
But perhaps the most important finding is this: It’s never too late to start.
If the study included people who already had mild cognitive issues,
And they still saw benefits from engaging in these activities,
Then you can do just as well as them!
Think of it like maintaining a garden.
Regular attention and care – even if you start later – can really get things growing.
References & Links:
• Source: TAMU
• Source Studies:
• J.CogEnh – A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Different Levels of Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activity and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults with MCI
• SageOpen – The Effect of Chess on Standardized Test Score Gains
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