The Science

The Science of Brain Fitness

Increasingly, scientific evidence tells us that we can dramatically increase the probability of staying mentally and physically fit throughout our lives. Most of us would probably say that mental fitness and agility translate directly to quality of life and more fulfilling experiences. Physical exercise, good nutrition, social connection with others, and mental stimulation all play important parts in insuring that our brains remain sharp and agile. In fact, there is good evidence which points to building brain reserves, our brain’s ability to generate new connections and pathways, as extra reserve capacity that will help us remain sharp throughout our lives. With expected longevity gains and, in the US alone, the first wave of the 78 million Baby Boomers now reaching 60, more and more scientists are conducting research into how we can keep our minds sharp.

Happy Neuron Workouts

“Use it or lose it” applies to muscles in our bodies as well as to neural pathways and connections in our brains. And what is more exhilarating than learning something new--at every stage of our lives? Scientists all over the world agree that the evidence is now overwhelming: mentally stimulating lives “boost brain power.” Numerous landmark studies (several are cited below) have found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities throughout our lives can help keep our minds sharp. Several of the studies cite challenging, interactive games as one effective method to keep the brain challenged and agile and several studies look specifically at targeted skills training.

We at Happy Neuron encourage you to challenge yourself to learn at every opportunity: by learning a new language or a new musical instrument or new and more complex tunes with an old one, reading, dancing, or taking a class. These are all effective tools to keep your mind sharp. We also encourage you to tone and hone your mind with Happy Neuron games, a quick, brainy workout based on scientific research and developed by respected cognitive scientists. We hope you will become more aware of the thinking skills you need everyday while using them as you play smart at Happy Neuron.

Brain Reserves

Over the last 25 years, scientists and physicians affiliated with medical schools and universities all over the world have followed and tested large groups of people to try to understand why some people stay sharp and with-it and other people don’t, over the span of their lives. As a result, we now have a significant body of scientific research in an area called “cognitive reserve.” Cognitive reserve involves the brain’s ability to create new neural pathways and connections that can be used as a mental savings account, a reserve to be drawn upon in time of need. The research supports the hypothesis that many people continue to operate at a high mental level throughout their lives by building these brain reserves.

Several studies support the hypothesis of cognitive reserve and reinforce the importance of good physical health in keeping the brain fit. One such study is the famous “Nun’s Study” described in Aging with Grace, in which Dr. David Snowdon, a neurologist, and his colleagues followed 700 nuns over more than 20 years. Two extremely important findings have come out of this study: there is a link between vascular episodes, such as stroke and heart attack, and Alzheimer’s and dementia; and stimulating intellectual activity can provide protection from many types of cognitive decline.

Based on a study of residents close to Columbia University in New York City, Dr. Yaakov Stern has presented strong evidence that education, occupation, and stimulating leisure activities all reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and can modulate brain damage, further reinforcing the cognitive reserve hypothesis that mentally stimulating activities help ward off brain disease. As Dr. Stern has pointed out, cognitive reserve may build the brain’s “software” instead of its “hardware." He is interviewed in an informative msnbc.com article.

Several ongoing studies have come to similar conclusions. The Bronx Aging Study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, led by Dr. Joe Verghese, a neurologist, has followed almost 500 people for more than 20 years, observing what they actually do in their lives and what the relationship is between these choices and brain health. The research found that people who participated in mentally stimulating activities, such as interactive games and dancing, four times a week had a 65 to75% better probability of remaining sharp than those who did not participate in these activities.

Dr. David Bennett at Rush University Medical Center has recently come to the same conclusion after following more than 2000 people for years. Over time, 134 people died. None of them had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or even mild cognitive decline. But 36% of them had the severe tangles and plaques of Alzheimer’s. This positive news reinforces the “use it or lose it” philosophy; these people had built up enough brain reserves to show no clinical signs of disease, meaning they still exhibited good thinking skills.

Other Lifestyle Choices that Help Keep Your Brain Healthy

Moving Your Body Keeps Your Mind Agile

Science News outlined how our life-style choices affect brain fitness. The first part of the two-part series, called “Buff and Brainy,” focuses on physical exercise and why it is so important for our brains as well as our bodies. Regular physical workouts enable the brain to function optimally by routing oxygen more efficiently to strengthen neural connections, prompt nerve cells to multiply, and protect these cells from injury and deterioration. Even diseased or damaged nerve cells seem to benefit.

Good Nutrition Builds Healthy Brains

The second part of the Science News series, called “Eat Smart,” emphasizes the importance of what we eat for the health and functioning of our brains. Several leading scientists and researchers have found that diets with significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in salmon and other fish and plants, and anti-oxidants can increase cells associated with learning in the brain. To put this another way, with good food choices, the brain has a better chance to repair diseased and damaged cells and generate new pathways and connections.

Additional Information

Professor Marion Diamond at the University of California, Berkeley, has long been a proponent, based on her research, of enriching and varied experiences as a critical tool for developing the brains of children. She is now turning her attention to the other end of the spectrum, which she calls successful aging. She emphasizes physical exercise, good diet, challenging, varied and new mental exercises, and adds a significant last need in the successful aging equation: human love.

It’s always handy to have a good summary of what you should know about keeping your brain fit. New Scientist published “11 Steps to a Better Brain” in 2005. The article gives a quick guide to what you can do to keep your brain healthy and refers to several landmark studies along the way.

We recommend the Alzheimer’s Association’s new information campaign, “Maintain Your Brain” and AARP’s “Brain Health” for good overviews of research and practical advice on brain health.