Socialization

There are many brain fitness programs that are computer based, computer focused - but they leave out one of the most important elements for a "senior" brain fitness and wellness program, and that is socialization.  One of the men in my class told me recently that he felt the value of the brain fitness exercises in our class but the contact and relationships with other class members made the experience even more valuable.  Many of our class members play online brain games at a variety of websites in addition to coming to class.  I believe it is the combination of a twice weekly class, online brain games, and brain-focused card and board games at home played with friends, that challenge the brain's plasticity.

In a class of eight participants, with an age difference of sometimes twenty years, there is a wide span of cognitive abilities.  As we know, we all have strengths and challenges in each area of brain cognition: memory, visualization, processing of information, executive processing, etc.  During any given exercise we may be able to push hard for the fastest possible processing, or sometimes be patient with one who is going to take a little longer to get on board.

Class after class, I watch participants challenge each other and also work patiently with each other.  When they work in pairs, there is value being in the "trainer" position as well as the "student" position.

It isn't always about age.  There is an 87 year old in my class who is sharp and meets every challenge.  Sometimes younger participants have had physical problems that make the activities they're doing a different kind of challenge.  As a facilitator and trainer, I push them to their cognitive limits.  Then I watch them be good to each other - patient and caring.

They share books.  They email each other with websites and articles about brain fitness.  They are often taking other classes together: exercise classes, writing personal history, playing bridge, keyboard lessons, etc.  These are classes that add to and enhance the exercises they are doing in their brain fitness class.  The absolute ideal for wellness is physical and brain fitness, which includes classes that energize brain activity.  Passive activities like crosswords and Soduku are not enough.  So...

GET MOVING!  Find your local senior community center and get busy.

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Amazing state of mind!

It occurs to me almost every day as I work with seniors that age is a state of mind.  I'm looking at my mother this week as she turns 94, and she absolutely amazes me.  Over the years, I've watched her slump, I've watched her fall, I've watched her get up and go again.  Amazing, amazing.  Her state of mind has kept her vibrant, socially active and mentally alert.  I have a Guatemalan proverb on my Facebook page that says, "Everyone is the age of their heart".  I am seeing this more and more as I work with the senior population.  Lots and lots of young hearts.

I think about my Brain Fitness classes that are just about to start up again this Fall at the Elsie Stuhr Center.  It's a 55+ crowd over there and when I walk down the halls, I am inspired.  In many of the classrooms there is some sort of physical exercise going on from chair exercise to Boomer Bootcamp to Zumba!  The state of mind in this place is also amazing!  If I'd known how much fun they were having, I would have admitted being a senior myself a long time ago!  Why is that word "senior" so hard to accept?  It's actually a great place to be in your life.

Change your state of mind by learning more about neurogenesis, plasticity and brain fitness.  Google online articles, read books and magazine articles on the subject.  Most of all, find a class in your city that challenges you with brain exercises, physical exercise, learning a language, and/or playing an instrument.  Brain Fitness is for all ages but on this blog it's about challenging a large part of the population that is walking over the midline of life and wants to stay sharp and fit.  I think this group is going to redefine life and change perceptions.  It's happening already!  Stay tuned!

Brain Fitness has changed my life!

"Brain Fitness classes have changed my life.  I thought I was doomed to have poor retention and a poor memory for the rest of my life. Since childhood, I thought something was abnormal about my brain.  I had trouble learning and understanding, not only through my school years but also in many work situations.  I learned to cope and hide these things from classmates and coworkers.  I was ashamed and stressed.  I overate to stuff my feelings of inadequacy and to keep people from finding out that I was "stupid".

In January 2010, I discovered a new class at my local senior center - Brain Fitness.  I signed up wondering what good could it do, and much to my surprise, happiness and gratitude, it did a great deal of good.  I enjoyed learning about the brain; that you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Doing brain exercises and games, both in class and online, my brain miraculously became normal.  Where I couldn't recall or relate, for example, about a book I just read, I have now learned, memorized, visualized and can recite all of the United States presidents in chronological order.  And, with some effort, can recite them backwards.  I now have a normal brain and want to make up for all the years that I couldn't learn.  I watch the TV program, "Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?", and am learning and retaining much of the information from that show that I couldn't learn when I was actually in the 5th grade.  I wish this program had been available when I was younger.  I can only imagine how much better my life would have been.

I impress people now with information I know that others don't know or recall.  It's like I have started my life over.  At a lecture, I heard a neuroscientist say that one of the best ways to grow new brain cells is to learn a musical instrument.  So, I am now learning to play the piano.  Soon I am going to take bridge lessons.  Then, maybe a foreign language.  Thanks to brain fitness, my senior years are now becoming the best years of my life.  I love my brain and I love life."

— contributed by Jill Davis, Brain Fitness class/Elsie Stuhr Center 2010

WHAT IS SENIOR BRAIN FITNESS?

It sounds good - but what is it exactly?

The brain is constantly adapting to new experiences.  When learning new skills, the brain reprograms itself.  It needs to have the right kind of mental exercise: measurable and increasing in intensity and difficulty.

• The OLD belief is that learning and changes in the brain occurred in early years only.
• We know now that the brain controls its own activity - its PLASTICITY - at any age.  This is the process called NEUROGENESIS.
• Research on normal aging has shown that cognitive decline can be slowed down by keeping the brain challenged and active.
• To maintain an active lifestyle, you need to stay as mentally sharp as possible.
• We teach classes in brain fitness in the Portland area.  We do mental exercises that increase in difficulty and intensity to stimulate the growth of new neurons.  We use music and the metronome to help keep the brain organized while applying mental challenges.