Brain Fitness

We would all like to know how to preserve and improve our memory and thinking abilities as we age. Observational studies that correlate naturally occurring lifestyle and health conditions with brain health or disease are giving us many clues about factors that may promote brain fitness. However, controlled studies of interventions based on these factors are still in very early stages.

WAI is committed to achieving a better understanding of the many factors that may reduce the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease and increase the chances of successful brain aging. The Wisconsin Registry of Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) is studying risk and protective factors in children of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. We have also been conducting exploratory research on brain fitness interventions for individuals with mild memory problems through a year-long program called “Take Charge: A Pilot Study of Memory Wellness”. For a description of this project and some preliminary findings, go to Take Charge.

If you are interested in learning more about current research on brain fitness, go to Brain Fitness Abstracts for reviews of recent research articles on factors that may be brain-protective and on intervention programs to maintain or improve cognitive skills. We will update this link with additional summaries as new studies are completed.

For further information on brain fitness, please contact Asenath La Rue, PhD, at the WAI, 608-829-3308 or larue@wisc.edu.

Below is a list of other brain fitness resources. These resources may or may not prove helpful for a particular person, but they provide a good starting place for keeping your mind active and engaged.

RESOURCES

Brain games available on the web for free:
www.aarp.org/fun/puzzles/
www.thirdage.com/living/games/sbt1/

Commercial brain fitness programs: www.mybraintrainer.com
www.cogmed.com
www.positscience.com
www.calibex.com/nintendo-brain-game
www.lumosity.com

Books and other materials that take a holistic approach:
The Healthy Brain Kit, Andrew Weil & Gary Small, 2007
The Memory Prescription, Gary Small, 2004
Keep Your Brain Young, Guy McKhann & Marilyn Albert, 2002
Total Memory Workout, Cynthia Green, 1999
Whole Brain Workouts, Marge Englemann, Elizabeth Ragsdale, and Tom Kinney, 2006

For friends or relatives with mild Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, here are some memory support programs in our area:

Crossing Bridges & Meeting of Minds – Alzheimer’s Association (South Central Chapter) – contact Mary Reines at 608-232-3400 or mary.reinces@alz.org

Early Bird Club - Lutheran Living Services, Waukesha – contact Jen Nowak at 414-258-4192 or nowakj@lutheranlivingservices.org

HAART Program - Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence – ThedaCare Behavioral Health, Appleton – call 800-236-2236 or visit www.thedacare.org