Think or Sink

The Australian - Weekend Magazine - Sat, 21 Oct 2006

Can you really fend off dementia with simple mental exercises? It's an idea rapidly gaining currency among scientists

Can brain exercises really halt cognitive decline?"... Neuropsychologist Nicola Gates is one of them.  An absence of long-term trials proving that brain training can ward off dementia hasn't stopped her opening a brain gym in Sydney's Mosman.  HeadStrong Cognitive Fitness is bankrolled by investors who see a strong market in Sydney's well-heeled but ageing suburbs, and fronted by Gates who brings the professional experience and academic training.  In her late 30s, Gates has been working with brain injury victims for the past 13 years, citing that as proof the brain can rebuild.

The first clients begin their mental exercises this month.  Gates insists her computer-based exercises are grounded in scientific research and backed by New York specialist Dr Elkhonon Goldberg, a pioneer of brain gyms.  "You go in and complete tasks that target brain functions such as processing speed, verbal fluency and new learning capacity," she says.

Gates says until recently doctors believed the brain could not regenerate, and that advancing years meant inevitable deterioration.  "Now you can increase your functioning rather than accept that with age you're going to be slower, more forgetful," she says.

"In fact, there's a lot to be said for older brains that has been missed in our general celebration of youth."  All that accumulated knowledge means older people can solve problems at a deeper level, while being less impulsive and better focused.  She acknowledges Valenzuela's point that mental exercise is not enough, and says her clients will also be asked about diet and exercise, and may be directed to a dietician or local fitness gym.

But how can she be sure it will keep dementia at bay? "That's what the research consistently indicates," she insists.  "The question is not whether to do it; the question is how often to do it, and how much benefit."

Excerpt from the The Australian - Weekend Magazine - 21/10/06

 

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