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Debunking 10 Brain Health and Brain Training Myths to Stay Sharp

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Published: 05Jul2009
Word count: 414
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Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other?

Do supplements improve memory? Do you need both physical and mental exercise 'or is one of them enough? Which brain training approach, if any, is worth one's time and money?

The most important thing to do first is to debunk the following 10 myths on brain health and brain training. Once you understand the facts, not the myths, you will be able to make much better decisions on how to stay sharp.

MYTH 1. Genes determine the fate of our brains.

Facts: Lifelong neuroplasticity allows our lifestyles and actions to play a meaningful role in how our brains physically evolve, especially given longer life expectancy.

MYTH 2. Aging means automatic decline.

Facts: There is nothing inherently fixed in the precise trajectory of how brain functions evolve as we age.

MYTH 3. Medication is the main hope for cognitive enhancement.

Facts: Non-invasive interventions can have comparable and more durable effects, side effect-free.

MYTH 4. We will soon have a Magic Pill or General Solution to solve all our cognitive challenges.

Facts: A multi-pronged approach is recommended, centered around nutrition, stress management, and both physical and mental exercise.

MYTH 5. There is only one "it" in "Use It or Lose it".

Facts: The brain is composed of a number of specialized units. Our life and productivity depend on a variety of brain functions, not just one.

MYTH 6. All brain activities or exercises are equal.

Facts: Varied and targeted exercises are the necessary ingredients in brain training so that a wide range of brain functions can be stimulated.

MYTH 7. There is only one way to train your brain.

Facts: Brain functions can be impacted in a number of ways: through meditation, cognitive therapy, cognitive training.

MYTH 8. We all have something called "Brain Age".

Facts: Brain age is a fiction. No two individuals have the same brain or expression of brain functions.

MYTH 9. That "brain age" can be reversed by 10, 20, 30 years.

Facts: Brain training can improve specific brain functions, but, with research available today, cannot be said to roll back one's "brain age" by a number of years.

MYTH 10. All human brains need the same brain training.

Facts: As in physical fitness, users must ask themselves: What functions do I need to improve on? In what timeframe? What is my budget?

Do you have other myths in mind you would like us to address?

Alvaro Fernandez is the Co-Author of The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews, to Keep Your Brain Sharp (182 pages, $24.95). Alvaro has been quoted The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN and more. He holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University. To Order: click on Brain Fitness Book at Amazon.com.

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