Can 20 minutes with a brain game cut your risk of age-related memory loss? A budding industry for brain-training products--already worth $80 million--is banking on it, but so far theres little evidence to back it up.
The premise of brain training is simple: Participants must complete a series of daily exercises such as mental calculation, memorization and enigmas to help increase cognitive ability and avoid certain neuro-degenerative diseases. Some companies like Brain Center International, which produces NeuroActive, promise regular users they'll shave 10 years of brain aging after eight weeks of use. Copies are flying off the shelf.
"To my knowledge, there is no scientific research demonstrating results from such recreational programs," says Sylvie Belleville, a professor at the Universit de Montral' Department of Psychology. According to Belleville, the principles of intellectual stimulation aren't false, but their efficiency haven't been scientifically proven. While memory products can be helpful, Belleville warns against the unrealistic expectations some may provide.
The advertising of these products, she stresses, "Could give false hopes. If someone doesn't see a change they could quit and it could eventually lead to depression." And in fact, there are programs that exist that have been proven to benefit seniors and Alzheimer's victims, according to Belleville: "These programs are based on memory strategies. They have nothing to do with the repetitive exercises offered by NeuroActive and others," she says.
In her opinion, the best way to keep one's cerebral functions is to pursue intellectual activities such as Sudoku, crossword puzzles, language and music; eat well; control cardio health risk factors, particularly diabetes and hypertension; and remain physically active.
