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THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM
If you are 50 years old today, you’ll probably live into your mid-80s. If
you live into your mid-80s, there’s a more than even probability that your
brain will decline in function before you die. At age 85, there’s almost
an even-money chance that you’ll be identified as senile; that will
dramatically impair your ability to live alone, your ability to make your
own decisions and to live a full and interesting life until the day you
die.
What doctors now know about brain function is that humans begin to
experience decline in most cognitive functions in their 30s and 40s. As
people grow older, the rate of decline increases, and the cumulative
effects become more noticeable. They have increasing difficulty
remembering, paying close attention, responding rapidly and performing
complex tasks. Their coordination, movement and many other cognitive
functions that once came easily become more difficult. These are symptoms
of elemental physical changes in an aging brain.
The problem is more than just lapses in memory. There are three root
causes of problems in the aging brain: an increasing signal-to-noise
problem in processing information collected by our senses; a decline in
the production of key brain chemicals; and a slowing in processing speed.
These problems make it increasingly difficult to accurately receive,
store, retrieve and manipulate information received from any of the five
senses.
It is not inevitable, however, that we will be in a state of dementia at
the time of our death. Physical exercise is necessary to maintain physical
strength, and the brain also needs to be exercised in order to retain
mental acuity throughout a lifespan.
Dr. Michael Merzenich and his colleagues worked together to create a
system for strengthening the brain and making it perform with more
agility, speed and comprehension. The Brain Fitness Program is based on
neuro-plasticity — the ability of the brain to change, adapt and even
rewire itself. The brain remains highly malleable or “plastic” throughout
life, and by presenting the brain with the proper stimuli, scientists can
drive beneficial physical and functional change. In the past two years,
this global team of scientists has developed computer-based stimulus sets
(or “exercises”) that drive beneficial changes in the brain. This
methodology is being expanded to address auditory and visual processing
and memory, dealing with complexity and the neurological basis for
difficulties in hand movement, posture, balance and mobility.
THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM is just that — a program to get your brain in
better shape. It’s designed to drive beneficial chemical, physical and
functional change in the brain. Multiple studies have shown a
scientifically valid average improvement of more than 10 years in
auditory, memory and cognitive function.
If you are 50 years old today, you’ll probably live into your mid-80s. If
you live into your mid-80s, there’s a more than even probability that your
brain will decline in function before you die. At age 85, there’s almost
an even-money chance that you’ll be identified as senile; that will
dramatically impair your ability to live alone, your ability to make your
own decisions and to live a full and interesting life until the day you
die.
What doctors now know about brain function is that humans begin to
experience decline in most cognitive functions in their 30s and 40s. As
people grow older, the rate of decline increases, and the cumulative
effects become more noticeable. They have increasing difficulty
remembering, paying close attention, responding rapidly and performing
complex tasks. Their coordination, movement and many other cognitive
functions that once came easily become more difficult. These are symptoms
of elemental physical changes in an aging brain.
The problem is more than just lapses in memory. There are three root
causes of problems in the aging brain: an increasing signal-to-noise
problem in processing information collected by our senses; a decline in
the production of key brain chemicals; and a slowing in processing speed.
These problems make it increasingly difficult to accurately receive,
store, retrieve and manipulate information received from any of the five
senses.
It is not inevitable, however, that we will be in a state of dementia at
the time of our death. Physical exercise is necessary to maintain physical
strength, and the brain also needs to be exercised in order to retain
mental acuity throughout a lifespan.
Dr. Michael Merzenich and his colleagues worked together to create a
system for strengthening the brain and making it perform with more
agility, speed and comprehension. The Brain Fitness Program is based on
neuro-plasticity — the ability of the brain to change, adapt and even
rewire itself. The brain remains highly malleable or “plastic” throughout
life, and by presenting the brain with the proper stimuli, scientists can
drive beneficial physical and functional change. In the past two years,
this global team of scientists has developed computer-based stimulus sets
(or “exercises”) that drive beneficial changes in the brain. This
methodology is being expanded to address auditory and visual processing
and memory, dealing with complexity and the neurological basis for
difficulties in hand movement, posture, balance and mobility.
THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM is just that — a program to get your brain in
better shape. It’s designed to drive beneficial chemical, physical and
functional change in the brain. Multiple studies have shown a
scientifically valid average improvement of more than 10 years in
auditory, memory and cognitive function.
