"Brain Age 2": Miracle or Marketing Ploy?

~~~~~We all must be familiar with the video game "Brain Age 2" - in case you aren't, it's the second version of "Brain Age", a Nintendo DS game meant to activate the prefrontal cortex of your brain, thus making you a smarter individual.
~~~"Brain Age 2" involves 10 fun minigames to train your brain (and one to help you relax), the popular Japanese number game of Sudoku, and a "Brain Age Check" feature to check your 'brain age' (the ideal one is 20... the lower the better!). The 5 million worldwide players of this game are quite convinced of its benefits... but is "Brain Age 2" really a miracle or just a marketing ploy?

~~~~~In my perspective, "Brain Age 2" is ideal if you just crave a fun video game to pass the time and if you want some brain stimulus, but not so much if you seriously want to improve your brain functions on a major scale.
~~~The reason for that is obvious: "Brain Age 2" solely targets the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is one of many sections of the brain that can be trained to make one overall "smarter". This cortex is very important, though: it's the section that deals with executive functions, attention, concentration, emotions, impulses, obsessions, compulsions, motor actions, fatigue, ruminations, worry, pain, negative symptoms, guilt, and suicidality, to name a few.
~~~Playing "Brain Age 2" could definitely help one with ADD / ADHD, OCD, depression, or Tourette's syndrome, but to become more intelligent from it or even to help those problems would have to involve one playing it for a relatively LONG time (as in maybe a month or two). I personally have improved quite well over the course of one week, but that may not be the case for others.
~~~How much one improves really depends on the age of the user. For older individuals who aren't getting much brain stimulus because they're not familiar with the new and complicated technology to help do so, playing "Brain Age 2" can substantially increase brain function and create new neural connections. For younger individuals introduced into the information era (like me), mastering "Brain Age 2" can come more easily and quickly, but their brains can still benefit from it.

~~~~~In conclusion, "Brain Age 2" is actually a pretty helpful game! It is clinically proven (well... proven by some online reviews and my brother and I) to increase overall brain function and improve mood, because it stimulates the area of the brain associated with them. Also, it serves as a decent time-passer when you're bored and provides some tips on how to keep your brain in ship-shape.
~~~I'd rate "Brain Age 2" an 8 out of 10 on a general scale. Happy playing!

~NeuBuddy~
:-)

Caffeine Boosts Memory in 2 Studies

Mice bred with Alzheimer-like disease had memory symptoms reversed with equivalent of five 8-ounce cups of coffee. The mice were normal after just 2 months of the caffeine jolt. Not only did these mice score equivalent on memory tests to non-dementia mice, but beta amyloid levels were cut in half. With caffeine possibly cutting brain inflammation, less amyloid was developed. A previous study found a similar relationship with caffeine and amyloid levels in elderly people. A study of caffeine and cognitive improvement in elderly people is slated next. However should a caffeine regimen become recommended, people with high blood pressure and/or pregnant would have to limit their caffeine dose. And that poses the next question for researchers; what dose is effective?



- NeuBrain



Read more about it at http://new.m.yahoo.com/w/ynews/article/health/10?url=http%3A%2F%2Fxml.news.yahoo.com%2Fus%2Fnews%2Frss%2Frichstoryrss.html%3Fu%3D%2Fhsn%2F20090707%2Fhl_hsn%2Fmoreevidencethatcaffeinecanjoltmemory&_ts=1247019012&.tsrc=hpredir&.intl=us&.lang=en

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TV Special on Alzheimer's

HBO is airing a multi-platform series on Alzheimer's beginning May 10 (check local listings). With the mission to increase money and research to find a cure, HBO will attempt to persuade viewers via 24 documentaries, 15 short films, a book, a website (www.HBO.com/alzheimers) and even a community outreach program. Maria Shriver, the executive producer of "The Alzheimer's Project," argues that Alzheimer's is an epidemic and the cost of not finding a cure is dramatic. The show also looks at the science aspect of Alzheimer's, by investigating 25 leading researchers and physicians and their respective labs and clinics, as well as, discussing some of the 90 different clinical trials that offer hope to Alzheimer sufferers.

- NeuBrain

Read more about it http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090503/hl_nm/us_alzheimers;_ylt=AlWwV6bkBLAzTzUxT6tgiJPVJRIF
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Theory: Taking Vitamin D When Young May Prevent MS

Researchers have known for some time that Multiple Sclerosis risk increases significantly the farther from the Equator. Although there may be some other interesting variables that may attribute to this latitude relationship, the prevailing thought is diminished seasonal sunshine along with more indoor activities contribute to less bodily vitamin D production and thereby triggering MS. Researchers have now shown that a gene variant that triples the risk of getting MS is sensitive to vitamin D. As a consequence, researchers postulate that if there is too little vitamin D at a young age then the gene variant eventually malfunctions. Future studies will likely explore sunlight exposure with this gene variant and more importantly if vitamin D supplements at a young age can reduce MS risk itself.

- NeuBrain

Read more about it at http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20090206/vitamin-d-may-cut-multiple-sclerosis-risk
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Vitamin D Suppresses MS

A small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology showed that average high doses of vitamin D supplement of 14,000 International Units (IU) a day for a year cut Multiple Sclerosis relapse risk by 41%. These results contrast with MS specialists' commonly recommended vitamin D dosage supplements of 1,000 IUs - 40% of MS sufferers experienced a relapse at that lower, but still high, dosage. Some other key points from the study.

1. High dosage MS sufferers experienced 41% less relapses than a year before the study.
2. High dosage participants did not suffer any significant side effects.
3. The study participants had a mild form (1.25 score) of relapsing MS and had it on average of 8 years.
4. High dosage participants were given 40,000 IUs daily at onset and then dosages were scaled down to average 10,000 IUs daily for the year.
5. Recommended vitamin D dosages for healthy people run from 200 to 600 IUs daily.
6. Study participants took 1,200 milligrams a day of calcium supplements.

Vitamin D seems to suppress and diminish the autoimmune response and production of rogue T lymphocytes attacking myelin sheaths. Researchers expect MS specialists to start recommending higher vitamin D dosages in the coming year, except to MS sufferers susceptible or experiencing kidney disease.

- NeuBrain

Read more about it at http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20090428/high-doses-vitamin-d-cut-ms-relapses
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Think Smarter by Improving Your Memory

So you what to think smarter? Well research is showing an interesting way to improve your fluid intelligence, your smarts, by improving your working memory. Although seeming unrelated processes, researchers presented their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that brain exercises targeted at improving working memory also increased fluid intelligence, reasoning and problem solving, test scores; These fluid intelligence test scores did not require memory use, nor did the testers study beforehand, but they did train their cognitive memory capacity. The more training the more the testers' scores improved from the researchers findings. Researchers theorized that shared neural networks were involved in these different processes. So would that explain why card counting improves overall gambling performance returns beyond just the statistics of knowing what was dealt to determining more effectively the odds of what could be dealt?

- NeuBrain

To read more about this see http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20080428/boost-memory-to-increase-intelligence
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New Study Advocates Exercising Brains

According to a findings released at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, its never too late to exercise your brain. A study of over 1300 people between ages 70 and 89 benefited from daily reading, writing and even knitting by delaying and even preventing the onset of memory loss. The study showed that playing games and doing arts and crafts could delay memory loss by around one-third. Interestingly, computer activities were most preventative in delaying memory loss onset by nearly cutting the risk in half; Watching TV had the opposite effect, resulting in more memory loss. So turn off your TV and play more computers games!

- NeuBrain

Read more about it at http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20090429/brain-exercises-may-delay-memory-loss
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Primer on Brain Memory Architecture

Memories are best recalled when they can be organized with "tags" of patterns, emotions, sensations, unexpected patterns or gists/generalizations. Unfortunately strings of information just by themselves often fail to get engraved deep in the brain with the necessary thick, linking neuron connections needed for effective brain cell recall.

This saving process is managed by the hippocampus, by translating short term memories to longer term ones. According to a New York Times article, researchers have shown that our buffer or caching process is limited to 5 to 9 chunks of data at a time. Anxiety and its related "danger" hormones can actually freeze recall by shutting down the frontal lobe process of accessing stored memories and enabling more energy for "fight or flight."

Practice, practice and more practice thankfully can strengthen and improve memory recall but the actual buffer or cache process itself is more resistant to improvement. In future posts we will investigate what can be done to improve how memories get temporarily cached and then recalled.

- NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/science/17angi.html?_r=1 (may require an online account)

Report Urges More Money Now to Prevent Alzheimer's

The Alzheimer's Study Group, convened by Congress in 2007, recently released their report and recommended creating the Alzheimer's Solutions Project to increase spending nationally on Alzheimer's prevention. The report projects that 16 Million Americans will be afflicted by Alzheimer's by 2050 and the related costs to Medicare and Medicaid will exceed $1 Trillion annually by then. The report argued more help for families and changes to Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse counseling and community services.

- NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090325/sc_mcclatchy/3197929;_ylt=ApqfK4OH2.T6mJhKKULi5pQ_cbYF

To read more from The Report Of The Alzheimer's Study Group (Co-Chaired by Democrat Bob Kerrey and Republican Newt Gingrich with members such as Justice Sandra Day O'Connor), see "A National Alzheimer's Strategic Plan" at http://www.alzstudygroup.org/Portals/0/National_Alzheimers_Strategic_Plan.pdf

Economic Stress Keeping People Up At Night

Results from the National Sleep Foundation poll last month were that one in four Americans are losing sleeping at night due to personal economic distress. An article in the NY Times claims relationship with the economy, increased sleeplessness and sales of over-the-counter sleeping pills, especially those that combine pain relievers. Unfortunately, the article does not show the correlation with the entire sleeping pill industry, which would have greater statistical significance; the article instead focuses on anecdotal brand strength revenues - maybe New York Times is seeking to increase their own advertisement revenues.

Interestingly, the article sites the National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that 30 percent of Americans experience some sort of sleeplessness with 10 percent classified as insomniacs. Market research firm, Packaged Facts, expects 10 percent growth through 2013 for sleep aids, including herbal supplements, neck pillows, sound machines and sleep masks.

- NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/business/media/24adco.html?ref=health

Music Mends the Mind

Vera Brandes claims to be the first musical pharmacologist. Her company, Sanoson (sanoson.at) designs music protocols for psychosomatic disorders, pain management, anxiety, depression, insomnia and certain types of arrhythmia.

Interactive Radio (sourcetone.com), another venue for mind mending music, claims its the "the world’s premiere music health service." Sourcetone states, "the service is designed to promote health through the power of music by delivering playlists that promote desired emotional states such as relaxation, invigoration, stimulation and happiness."

If you plan to use these serivices or have used them, please provide us with your feedback.

- NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/arts/music/29gure.html?pagewanted=all (may require an online account)

Itchy Research Offers New Insight

Itch research has been neglected for years but some new insight may provide a better framework to champion more interest in the field.

Excessive itching arguably is a telltale sign of the brain not comprehending the inherent response intended. This short circuit not only confuses what is happening to the skin but also may be related to over 50 different neurological diseases if the itching conditions persist.

The inherent response to itching is relief from pain which specialized spinal cord cells produce. According to the authors of the study, these cells initially create the itch sensation in order to inhibit pain in healthy individuals. With this finding, we expect the interrelated areas of pain and itch research to grow.

-NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/health/07itch.html (may require an online account)

Chess - The "Real Deal"

If you're not so much of an outdoors-person like Tiger Woods or Venus Williams would be and you still want to improve brain function and memory, there is hope! The seemingly innocuous board game of chess has proved to be a vital key in helping Alzheimer's patients recover from their condition and has shown to improve one's mental age by up to 14 years.

Chess involves ALL aspects of critical thinking for both hemispheres of the brain. It exercises problem solving and social skills; improves concentration, determination, and technique for almost anything; and most importantly, chess is fun!

- birdbuddy (NeuBuddy)

Read more about this at http://www.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081013183024AAqyhBz or Google™ search "chess improves memory" for more information.

Years of Practice Grows Gray Matter - Just ask Tiger Woods

Researchers have showed through image analysis that between 800 to 3000 hours of practice produce a visible increase in brain gray matter. And 10,000 hours may set you apart from advanced practitioner to a professional, so practice, practice, practice!

- NeuBrain

Read more about this at http://www.NeuGyms.com/TigerWoods