Healthy Aging for the Brain: Understanding the Facts, not the Myths

By: Alvaro Fernandez Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Have you noticed that every week some article seems to say exactly the opposite to what another article said the week before?

Do supplements improve memory? Are physical and brain activity important and complementary or is either enough? Which brain training approach, if any, is worth one's time and money?

The most important thing to do first is to debunk the following 10 myths on brain health and brain training. Once you understand the facts, not the myths, you will be able to make much better decisions on how to stay sharp.

MYTH 1. Genes determine the fate of our brains.

Facts: Lifelong brain plasticity means that our experiences have a very important influence on how our brain abilities evolve as we get older.

MYTH 2. Aging means automatic decline.

Facts: There is nothing inherently fixed in the precise trajectory of how brain functions evolve as we age.

MYTH 3. Medication is the main hope for cognitive enhancement.

Facts: Non-invasive interventions can have comparable and more durable effects, side effect-free.

MYTH 4. We will soon have a Magic Pill or General Solution to solve all our cognitive challenges.

Facts: Several lifestyle pillars are important, such as a balanced nutrition, managing stress, and doing regular physical and brain exercise.

MYTH 5. There is only one "it" in "Use It or Lose it".

Facts: The brain as a physical organ presents a variety of specialized units. Our life and productivity depend on a variety of brain functions, not just one.

MYTH 6. All mental activities or exercises are the same.

Facts: Varied and targeted exercises are the necessary ingredients in brain training so that a wide range of brain functions can be stimulated.

MYTH 7. There is only one way to train your brain.

Facts: Brain functions can be impacted in a number of ways: through meditation, cognitive therapy, cognitive training.

MYTH 8. We all have something called "Brain Age".

Facts: Brain age is a fiction. No two individuals have the same brain or expression of brain functions.

MYTH 9. That "brain age" can be reversed by 10, 20, 30 years.

Facts: Brain training can improve specific brain functions, but, with research available today, cannot be said to roll back one's "brain age" by a number of years.

MYTH 10. All human brains need the same brain training.

Facts: As in physical fitness, users must ask themselves: What functions do I need to improve on? In what timeframe? What is my budget?

Do you have other myths in mind you would like us to address?

Copyright (c) 2009 SharpBrains

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Alvaro Fernandez is the Co-Author of The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews, to Keep Your Brain Sharp (182 pages, $24.95). Alvaro is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on the Aging Society, and he holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University. To Order: click on Brain Fitness Book at Amazon.com.