Brain Health Update: Marketing, Science, and Geography

A roundup of interesting brain health news:

Brain Workouts Gain in Popularity, But Buyer Beware

"Consumers and retirement homes have made brain-fitness games and exercises a commercial hit, but now some insurers and employers are incorporating them into wellness programs that promote health not just for the body but also for the mind." -- MarketWatch.com

"Thousands of Americans are choosing to join a small, but growing, number of "brain gyms" springing up around the country. Similar brain-teaser programs are available on home computers, sometimes free of charge. The scientific jury is still out on the efficacy of such software." -- The Wall Street Journal

"The Stanford Center on Longevity today, on behalf of 30 of the world's finest cognitive and brain scientists, released a statement providing public guidance on products claiming to improve mental fitness and the science behind them. ... 'Fear of memory loss, mental impairment and Alzheimer's disease lead many consumers to search for products -- from supplements to software -- that claim to ward off such ailments,' Laura L. Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, said. 'Such products are becoming more prolific, but this burgeoning industry is completely unregulated and the claims can range from reasonable though untested, to blatantly false. It is important for consumers to proceed with caution before buying into many of these product claims. There is no magic bullet solution for cognitive decline.'" -- Stanford Center for Longevity press release

(thanks to SharpBrains.com for pointing out the first and third items)

Another study confirms mentally stimulating activities cut dementia risk

"Mind-stimulating leisure time pursuits, like crossword puzzles, were found to be significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease over the 4-year follow up period.

By contrast, Akbaraly's team observed no protective effect from physical, passive, and social leisure activities such as doing odd jobs, gardening, walking, watching television, listening to the radio, or visiting with friends."

source: Reuters

Does where you live affect brain health?

A study looked at 21 indicators of brain health in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"The top 10 ranking geographies in the nation for brain health are the District of Columbia, Maryland, Washington state, Vermont, Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire. The two states that could use a brain boost, after ranking the lowest in the nation, are Alabama and Louisiana. ... The Index indicates that residents of the top 10 brain-healthy states tend to make smart nutritional choices, watch their waistlines, avoid smoking, read for personal interest and put a high priority on education."

The news article is here and more detail on the study is here.

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