I've Got a Need For Speed! - Brain Training That Cuts Dementia Risk

I'm always on the hunt for research about nervous system care and healthy aging. Part of this is selfish - I want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible! The other motivation is that I want to serve my students in the most useful way that I can by sharing information and incorporating other types of practices into our yoga class.

Yoga is a wonderful complete practice for body, mind, and spirit. But it is not the only way to live our lives to the fullest. There are many ways to take care of ourselves, and scientific studies are often showing us new and interesting methods.

Exercises for Brain Health

A recent NPR article covered one such study that tested different types of brain training exercises. In this 1990's study, the researchers wanted to determine which, if any, types of these exercises led to long term benefits in relation to Alzheimer's and dementia. It focused on three different types of mental challenges: speed training (focused on visual search), memory training (focused on improving verbal memory), and reasoning training (focused on problem solving). The fourth group had no interventions, and was therefore the control group.

Individuals in the study completed at least eight out of 10 of initial training sessions, and were randomized again to receive booster training sessions at 11 and 35 months after baseline. The federally funded study of 2,802 people found that those who did the initial training sessions in cognitive speed training, as well as at least one booster session, were about 25% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over the next two decades. Although beneficial in general, the memory and reasoning activities had no effect on the risk of dementia.

You can try your hand (brain?) at speed training sessions at www.brainhq.com. You can also participate in this study at MindCrowd.org by taking a 10 minute online cognitive test that evaluates memory and attention, and gives you immediate results about how you stack up.

Other Ways To Care For Our Brain

Many studies have been done shown how we can help our brains thrive with our lifestyle and health choices.

General recommendations for brain health:

• Getting high-quality sleep, meaning sleep that allows the brain to cycle through all the sleep stages

• Reducing alcohol intake, especially binge drinking

• Maintaining good blood flow to the brain by managing risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes

• Exercising (aerobic and non-aerobic) at every age can improve both brain function and structure

You and your brain can find my yoga classes on Zoom and in person on the Offering page of my website. You can also practice in your own time using the free resources available on the Video Library page!

Thanks for reading!

Om Shanti,

Laura