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Why Brain Fitness for Seniors is Important
How Can Seniors Improve Brain Health
Not that long ago, scientists thought our brains lost agility, memory and function as we aged. For decades, this idea was taught as fact and accepted as normal for older adults.
But more recent studies have found that the aging brain can continue to enjoy active and effective function. In fact, nutrition, exercise, memory exercises and cognitive activity have been shown to actually boost brain power, combat memory loss, and improve cognitive abilities. Consistently exercising your brain can reduce the risk of memory loss and dementia by 63%.
It turns out the advice for maintaining your brain health is similar to maintaining your physical health: “Use it or lose it.”
Why Brain Exercises Are Important for Seniors
In a 2018 research study at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, researchers found cognitive training helped the participants’ brains become more energy-efficient, meaning their brains didn’t have to work as hard to perform a task. Their cognitive training strategies included:
- How to focus on the most relevant information and filter out the less relevant
- Ways to continually synthesize information encountered in daily life to encourage deeper thinking
- How to inspire innovative thinking through generating diverse interpretations, solutions and perspectives
Game Play Is Brain Play
One activity that incorporates all these cognitive training strategies and should be a part of any brain fitness programs for seniors is games. Plus, playing games with others provides valuable social interaction while also stimulating memory and brain function. Some game options to consider include:
- Crossword puzzles: Crosswords are essentially a memory problem requiring you to use your recall function to find the correct words. Since you’ll also need to match the clues with the word that fits the box, they can also help strengthen your association capabilities,
- Sudoku: Because you’ll have to remember the locations of other numbers, these types of puzzles can help improve your concentration power and your memory.
- Scrabble: Research suggests that playing Scrabble lowers blood pressure, improves memory functions and fosters an overall sense of happiness.
- Chess: The focus, strategy and creative planning required in chess makes it an excellent brain-stimulating activity. Studies suggest that anyone over age 75 who plays chess is far less likely to contract Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
- Jigsaw puzzles: Research has shown that finding and connecting two correct puzzle pieces releases the feel-good chemical dopamine, which can help improve levels of concentration.
Proven Brain Fitness at The Glebe
As a result of all this new research and proven science, our health and wellness team at The Glebe, independent living community in Roanoke, started looking into what seniors can do to improve memory. After checking around, we decided on a partnership with Dakim® and its award-winning, evidence-based BrainFitness cognitive training program.
Their clinically proven system cross-trains the brain in six cognitive domains — visual-spatial relationships, short-term memory, long-term memory, computation, critical thinking and language — and has been shown to significantly improve memory, both immediate and delayed, and language skills as it strengthens attention, focus and concentration.
Dakim® program uses highly entertaining multimedia brain exercises and its patented NuroLogic™ Technology to self-adjust the level of challenge in real time. This allows you to receive a workout that is precisely matched to your individual abilities to support and improve your cognitive well-being.
Protecting Your Brain Health Is Smart
Aging is an unavoidable fact of life for everyone. But you do have some control over how you age. If you’re ready to see how our independent senior living community can take your health and wellness to a higher level, contact us today.