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2008-05-01 13:20:00

Having troubles remembering?

Answer: For just a moment I completely blanked out the name of my partner’s son who I know well. When similar lapses happened, I was clearly annoyed at myself, but attributed these incidents with being on overload. Over time I became aware that such “embarrassing moments” seemed to happen more regularly. There was no doubt, something in my brain’s ability to recall was not functioning as well as it had been. Was there anything I could do about it? Enter Michael Merzenich, Ph.D, professor for Integrative Neurosciences at the University of California at San Francisco, inventor with over 50 patents to his name, and Chief Science Officer at Posit Science whose company is on the forefront of developing mental health fitness programs for aging brains. Dr. Merzenich’s brain research dates back to the l980s, when he discovered how animal brains changed as they acquired new skills. These observations led him to develop protocols to improve brain fitness in humans. “Think of the brain as a road map,” he explains. “When a baby’s brain is forming, the major highways are marked first. Over time, as the brain acquires more and more information, this road map gets denser and denser. Eventually the information that’s recorded on the map will incorporate even the smallest little lane (details). In our youth we take it for granted that we generally have no problems accessing our own information. Yet, the reverse happens as we age. The tiny details on the map become fuzzier, and we experience some difficulty accessing our own data. Research shows that a sixty year old brain takes in information two to three times slower than a twenty year old brain because many details on the “map” have become a little blurry. At eighty the brain may be five to eight times slower,” says Dr. Merzenich. What we believe to be simple forgetfulness or multi-tasking overload are actually the symptoms of brain aging. The good news, however, is that research has also proven that the aging brain can grow new, strong neural connections, and we can improve brain fitness by regular exercise. Under his guidance, his company has developed two products to improve memory and cognition (thinking and processing speed). The first program is focused on listening, the other on visual exercises, both are computer aided. Given the strong interest of 78 million baby boomers to maintain their physical and mental fitness, an array of brain improvement products have recently hit the market, from various computer games to brain improvement books. The only programs I have personally tested are those from Posit Science. I first used the computer aided Brain Fitness program and made it through 40 sessions. It took a definite commitment on my part to make this form of exercise a priority in my crowded schedule. During the “work-out” I chose a place where I could not be disturbed because I learned quickly that absolute focus is necessary. You really have to listen hard. But to my great satisfaction, I noticed a definite improvement in memory after finishing the program which is costly, $395. -- but to many worth it. Feeling pretty good about having recaptured some of my lost brain functionality, I took a vacation from brain exercises for one year and a half. Unhappily I noticed that the “old” memory lapses reoccurred. So I decided to take the visually focused course next. I am pleased to report that I felt a greater alertness to details, especially while driving, even after the first ten sessions. Ultimately, the lesson is clear, you have to stick with it, just like physical exercise, to stay fit in body and mind.