My Vigorous Mind - Science
The great scientist and author Isaac Assimov wrote “the human brain is the most complicated organization of matter that we know”. Significant research and effort has been devoted to gaining understanding how the brain functions. Particularly, efforts have been focused on how brain functions change with aging. As the aging population increases, concerns over the relationship of cognitive function and maintaining independence and quality of life in later years become increasingly important. Cognitive and behavioral declines are not inevitable consequences of aging. Accumulating evidence shows that it is possible to ward off age related decline in cognitive function by means of regular mental exercise and physical activity. Both of these activities increase blood flow to a variety of areas within the brain, and in doing so, encourage brain cell vigor and growth. Additionally, it has been shown that socialization, reduced stress, proper nutrition and adequate sleep help the individual bolster their functional abilities.
It used to be thought that after age 20, brain cells (neurons) began to die and were never replaced. Declining function was inevitable. This has since been proven wrong. Today’s researchers have documented that our brains can grow and evolve even as we age. Brain cells adapt to new stimuli. It has been shown that mental exercising stimulates growth of new neurons and neuronal pathways and increases connectivity between neurons and between brain regions. This form of stimulated growth and adaptation has been termed the development of a “Cognitive Reserve”, a sort of savings account for brain functionality, by scientists at Columbia University (Stern, 2006). In addition, they believed that cognitive exercising increases the efficiency of connections between neurons, allowing the brain to function utilizing less resources. These biological processes may be responsible for preserved cognitive functioning and independence in the elderly even when biological markers of dementia or Alzheimer are present.
This was described in the 2003 landmark longitudinal study by David Snowden, The Nun Study. In this study, autopsies of the brains of individuals who lived well into their nineties or older and who showed no signs of mental functional decline, revealed that most exhibited significant changes in brain structures and biological markers usually associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In spite of those changes, they did not show any behavioral changes. Snowden concluded that continued mental exercising allowed for the development of alternate pathways that bypassed the diseased portions of the brain and that appeared to account for their preserved mental functioning.
Researchers have acknowledged that brain exercise can have an effect on cognitive function. However, the question remained as to whether the training had any long-term residual effect. This question was addressed by a large study funded by the NIH and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (the “ACTIVE” study) in December of 2006. The study followed 2,832 seniors in six cities for five years. They were divided into four treatment groups. Three groups received 10, one-hour cognitive training sessions (memory, processing speed, and reasoning) and one was the control group and received no training. Each training intervention improved the targeted cognitive ability compared to the individual’s base line after two years. Their final results after five years showed that training in ‘reasoning’ five years earlier showed significant carryover and resulted in less functional decline in those participants as measured by self-reported Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Thus, if ‘minimal’ training could have a carryover five years later, regular structured exercise could result in improved function over the course of one’s life.
This concept was amplified in a recent study by Jaeggi that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 2008. Jaeggi's group concluded that it was possible to improve one’s ability to reason and solve new problems independently of previously acquired knowledge by training working memory. The study demonstrated that the extent of improvement was critically dependent on the amount of training each participant received. Therefore, more frequent or longer training resulted in greater measurable gain in functionality.
Is cognitive exercise and cognitive activity important? A recent study by Wilson in the journal Neurology in November of 2007 showed that people who are cognitively inactive are 2.6 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than cognitively active people. The researchers also found that frequent cognitive activity was associated with reduced incidence of mild cognitive impairment and less rapid decline in cognitive functions.
Finally, in addition to the preventive and protective role of continued mental activity, some of the tasks in My Vigorous Mind have an immediate effect on daily functioning, as they practice vocabulary and refresh computation skills used in everyday life. My Vigorous Mind also provides opportunities to socialize and interact with others, reduce stress, and maintain a cognitively challenging lifestyle. Furthermore, My Vigorous Mind enables the user to experience progress and a sense of accomplishment. In doing so, it promotes a positive sense of well-being, a positive emotional state that enhances cognitive stability as one ages.