sical instruments, or play-
QUICK BRAIN EXERCISES: ing a board game qualifi es.
“It’s all about the new and
Seek out computer games that complex,” Nussbaum says.
are fun, novel, and complex “Cognitively challenged
and play for 10-15 minutes a brains build up reserves of
day. Keep track of your scores. new connections.” Once you
Once you’ve mastered a game, no longer are challenged by
move on to another. Sudoku puzzles, continuing to solve ment with little research focus and
them can be fun, but it is not neces- a primary motivation to cash in.”
brains, they become excited, because sarily brain-enhancing. To organize information, Fer-
they fear Alzheimer’s.” Interestingly, some autopsies have nandez helped create a Web site
How can you strengthen your revealed full-blown Alzheimer’s focusing on the growing body of cog-
brain? Nussbaum cites fi ve areas sci- disease pathology in the brains of nitive health research. “We designed
ence suggests have the potential to people who showed few symptoms SharpBrains to be an unbiased portal
slow or forestall the effects of aging. while living. Often these were people to all this knowledge,” Fernandez
with higher education and complex explains. “The exciting thing is that
■ Regular physical activity. Any ex- a number of programs show mea-
ercise strengthening your heart also QUICK BRAIN EXERCISES: surable improvements in cognitive
benefi ts your brain. Dancing, gar- skills.” Although he cautions there is
dening, bicycling, hiking, walking, Develop ambidexterity. Brush no proof that these activities do, in
golfi ng, tennis, swimming — any ac- your teeth, do your crossword fact, lower the incidence of dementia
tivity that sustains an elevated heart puzzle, or stir your coffee with or Alzheimer’s disease symptoms,
rate — is recommended at least three your nondominant hand. circumstantial evidence suggests
times a week. they can.
occupations who were physically “We don’t know how it happens
■ Socialization. Studies show isolat- and socially active all their lives. Sci- or how long changes last,” agrees
ed individuals have a higher risk of entists theorize they had more cellu- Wagster, “but even in the face of
dementia. Stay involved with friends lar connections in their brains, hence these unanswered questions, there
and family or consider volunteering larger cognitive reserves. is the chance to maintain our
in your community. “Put it this way,” says Nussbaum. cognitive function.” MO
“We want our brains to look like a
■ Diet. Don’t overeat. Obesity pre- jungle, not an island with a single ONLINE RESOURCES:
disposes people to dementia. Studies palm tree.”
show benefi ts from the consumption So how do we nurture a jungle
There are many Web sites
of the “good” omega-3 fatty acids brain? The new buzzword is “brain
related to brain fitness. Sharp
found in salmon, walnuts, and fl ax- fi tness,” and there is a rapidly evolv-
Brains, www.sharpbrains
seed and from foods high in antioxi- ing brain-fi tness industry focusing
.com, offers well-organized
dants, such as deep-colored fruits primarily on computer-based games
information including stud-
and vegetables. and activities.
ies about memory, articles by
“There is so much information
experts, games to play, spe-
■ Spirituality. Chronic stress and out there — often confusing informa-
cific guidelines for evaluating
anxiety accelerate both physical and tion,” says Alvaro Fernandez, CEO
brain-training software, links
mental aging. Studies in the emerging of SharpBrains.com, who teaches a
to other Web sites, and a free
fi eld of “neurotheology” have shown course titled “The Science of Brain
monthly electronic newsletter.
effective antidotes in the regular ob- Health and Brain Fitness” at several
servance of both formal religion and San Francisco-area universities. Other helpful sites include:
informal practices such as relaxation, “Some companies have been founded www.brainready.com
meditation, and tai chi. by serious scientists whose primary www.gamesforthebrain.com
motivation is to help people, but www.brainmetrix.com
■ Mental stimulation. Traveling, other companies are making or im- www.braingle.com
learning a new language, playing mu- plying claims about brain improve-
AUGUST 2008 MILITARY OFFICER 65
AAug_Brain feature.indd 65ug_Brain feature.indd 65 77/7/08 8:08:55 PM/7/08 8:08:55 PM
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84