Brain Teasers Books
Combining physical and mental exercise for Brain Health: Interview with Dr. Kramer
Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains
Dr. Arthur Kramer is a professor at the University of Illinois, Department of Psychology, Campus Program in Neuroscience, Beckman Institute and the Director of the Biomedical Imaging Center, University Illinois.
I am honored to interview today on the latest findings of brain research focused on how to keep the brain healthy and strong.
Alvaro Fernandez (AF): Dr. Kramer, thank you for your time. Let's start by trying to clarify some existing misconceptions and controversies. Based on what we know today, and its piece of newly created (Note: referenced below), which are the main lifestyle habits 2-3 suggest you to someone who wants to delay Alzheimer's symptoms and improve overall brain health?
Dr. Kramer (DK): First, be active. Exercise. Aerobic exercise, 30 to 60 minutes per day three days a week, has proven to have an impact on a variety of experiments. And it is not necessary to do something strenuous: even walking has shown in this regard. There are many open questions regarding specific types of exercise, duration, magnitude of effect … but, as we wrote in our recent Neuroscience Nature Reviews article, there is no doubt that leading a sedentary life is bad for our cognitive health. Cardiovascular exercise seems to have a positive effect.
Second, maintaining Intellectual permanent commitment. There is abundant prospective observational research showing that doing more mentally stimulating activities reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms.
Let me add, given all the media sensationalism that no "brain game" in particular, has shown have a long-term impact on Alzheimer's or maintenance of cognition over long periods of time. It is too early for that, and consumers should be aware of this fact. It is true that some companies are still based more on science than others, but in my opinion, the consumer-oriented field is growing faster that research is.
Ideally, combine both physical and mental stimulation along with social interactions. Why not have a good ride with friends to discuss a book? We lead a busy life, so that activities are more integrated and interesting, the more likely we will.
AF Grand concept: a walking book club! Now, some of the confusion we see is due to the search for "magic bullets" that work for everyone and everything. We prefer to speak of several pillars of brain health and the different priorities of different individuals. Can you tell us what kind of interventions appear to have a positive effect on specific cognitive abilities and individuals?
DK: Maybe one day we will be able to recommend specific interventions people on the basis of genetic tests, for example, but we have no idea today. We are only beginning to understand how the environment interacts with our genome.
But I agree with the premise that probably will not be a general solution that solves all of cognitive problems, but we need a multitude of approaches. And we can not forget, for example, the cognitive benefits of quitting smoking, sleep, pharmacological interventions, nutrition, social engagement.
The Physical exercise tends to have broader effects on the different forms of perception and cognition, as seen in the Colcombe and Kramer, 2003, meta-analysis published in Psychological Science (Note: referenced below).
Cognitive training also works for a multitude of perceptual and cognitive domains – but has shown little transfer beyond the training task.
No single type of intervention is insufficient. Today there is no clear research on how factors different lifestyle can interact. The National Institute on Aging is starting to sponsor research to address just that.
AF: Finally, what's on your mind the best way to explain the relative benefits of cognitive vs. physical exercise? From a fundamental standpoint, it seems clear that the exercise can help improve physical neurogenesis (Note: the creation of new neurons), a learning / cognitive exercise contributes to the survival of neurons by strengthening of synapses, see it more as these two "pillars" are courtesy of one or the other. "
DK: I agree. Given we know today I would recommend the intellectual engagement and physical exercise. However, we do know, from a multitude of animal studies, that physical exercise has a multitude of effects on the brain beyond neurogenesis, including increases in various neurotransmitters, nerve growth factors, and angiogenesis (The formation of new blood vessels).
AF: Dr. Kramer, thank you very much for your time.
DK: You're welcome.
About the Author
Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains.com, which reviews resources for brain health such as the brain fitness program and offers free brain teasers. SharpBrains has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, Newsweek, The New York Times, and more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute.
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