|
|
Solving Daily Math Problems Alleviates Some Dementia
By Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, NAPSI and Kumon Publishing
Japan
Aug. 2, 2005
Go figure. Performing math problems regularly may help alleviate some of the symptoms of dementia. The idea is that just as regular exercise is known to help slow the deterioration of muscles, the same is true for the brain.
Research indicates that performing simple calculations quickly may help alleviate symptoms of dementia by activating large regions of the brain.
In order to maintain your physical health, you have to exercise regularly, eat healthily and sleep well. In like manner, in order to maintain your mental health, you need to exercise your brain regularly, eat healthily and sleep well. You have to exercise your brain just as you would any other part of your body if you were trying to stay fit.
Research conducted in Japan has led me to believe that doing simple math calculations quickly and reading out loud can benefit adults who wish to work on the following:
. creativity
. memory skills
. communication skills
. slowing the mental effects of aging.
These exercises also have benefits for adults with the following symptoms:
. increasing forgetfulness
. difficulty remembering people's names, spelling words and expressing thoughts.
Based on this research, my lab created a program to help Japan's aging population maintain optimal brain functioning as it grows older.
The brain health exercises in this program help increase the delivery of oxygen, blood and various amino acids to large regions of the brain.
The benefits seem to come from activating the largest sections of the prefrontal cortex. The result is more neurons and neural connections, which are characteristic of a healthy brain.
|
|
