Brain Exercises and Brain Training for dementia treatment includes games and exercises designed to challenge the brain. Research suggests that people who do cognitively stimulating activities may have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia providing a healthier life for those 65 years and older.
What are early signs of Alzheimer's Disease?
Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease, though different people may have different initial symptoms. A decline in other aspects of thinking, such as finding the right words, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, is a condition that can also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimer's. In addition to memory problems, movement difficulties and problems with the sense of smell has been linked to MCI.
DementiaPreventable?
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. Today, 50 million people livewith dementia worldwide, Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized byadecline in memory, language, problem solving and other thinking skills that affect aperson's ability to perform everyday activities. Giving individuals the ability to learn about dementia,willprovide relevant information, resources and support, and make the most of their abilitiesandpotentially benefit from drug and non-drug treatments available. An early diagnosisgives someone the chance to explain to family and friends the changes happening in their life.Giving those with dementia the opportunity to participate in brain games and brain training.Individuals65 years and older will benefit by keeping their minds active, thinking skills less likely todeclineand improvements in cognition. Computer Cognitive Training (CCT) games, puzzles, and other types of brain training may help slow memory loss and other mental problems.
Evidence based discussion points
● Research says, studies have demonstrated that People with Dementia (PwD’s)speed improved with practice at the same rate as healthy older adults. This implies thatwhen tasks are designed to match PwD’s abilities, learning ensues. Research suggestingthattechnology can be empowering and satisfying to participants (Tziraki,2017)
○ Research suggesting that technology can be empowering and satisfyingtoparticipants. Although it is generally assumed that PwD cannot learnnew information and skills, our exploratory data show that some of those who usedthegame learned how to do many of its activities. Future research will testexactlywhat is learned in the game, and more importantly, if there is a transferof knowledge from the game to real life scenarios over time (Tziraki,2017)
● Research says, the effects of solving jigsaw puzzles on cognition has notbeeninvestigated yet. Next to the positive impact of a wide range of cognitivelychallengingactivities on cognition, several other findings indicate the potential of jigsaw puzzlestopromote visuospatial cognitive health. Performance in solving jigsaw puzzles ishighlycorrelated with performance in visuospatial reasoning tasks (Fissler,2017)
○ This study says as visuospatial dysfunctions (deficits in visuoconstructionor visuospatial episodic memory and missed traffic signs or relocated objects)arecommon in neurocognitive diseases such as mild cognitive impairmentanddementia especially due to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies,andposterior cortical atrophy lifelong jigsaw puzzle experience might be one outof many cognitive activities that may contribute to a delayed clinicalmanifestationof neurocognitive disorders (Fissler, 2017)
Practical Applications (Ideas andStrategies)
● 2-3 times per week approximately 30-60 minutes for optimal braintraining
○ Sleep (7-8 hours)
○ Exercise
● Board games - Allows focus and time to be given to theindividual.
○ Bingo
○ Card games
○ Dominoes
○ Uno
● Traditional memory aids
○ Journals, calendars and newspapers
● Electronic memory aids
○ Alarm clock, mobile phone, computer or tablet,Apps
● Memory strategies a problem solvingapproach
○ Identify the problem, decide how much it matters to you, think about howyou might help yourself, practice your strategies and see what works foryou
● Memory tools- using mental pictures
○ Remembering someone's name by making a picture in your mind fromsomethingin a person's name
● Memory tools- using words or rhymes
○ Pleasant Peter, PrettyPenny
About Author
Jennifer Chapdelaine, is a senior at Westfield State University, majoring in Movement Science concentration Sport Medicine, striving to become and MRI Technician.
Resources
https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/brain-training-can-reduce-dementia-riskhttps://www.dementiasociety.org
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