Exercising Your Brain, Important As Exercising Your Body
Use It Or Lose It
Updated: 2:23 pm CST December 20, 2006
MADISON, Wis. -- The fitness craze these days means more than a trip to the local gym or a couple miles on the treadmill.
TALKBACK: How Do You Exercise Your Brain? | 
VIDEO: Watch The ReportA gaining movement in America today, centers are making sure that well into your golden years, you've got a mind to match your healthy body.Dr. Marge Engelman, Madison, is a bit of a pioneer in the field of "brain aerobics". She's been working with seniors in Southern Wisconsin for the better part of the last 30 years, and is finally seeing people taking mental fitness more seriously."It's really like a movement now, like physical fitness used to be and now we're moving to brain fitness, and I think it's because people are concerned about their memories," said Engelman who has published two books on the subject.Studies now show the more information you feed your brain, the more you decrease your risk of dementia. "If you're bored, it probably means your brain is hungry," said Engelman.As seniors line up around the country to join the mental fitness craze, bigger entities are joining the fray. As more and more research pours in supporting theories that cognitive exercise reduces Alzheimer's risk, health insurance giant Humana announced this month it was joining forces with California-based Posit-Science to offer a brain fitness program to older adults.And now the movement is expanding to younger people. "There is more and more indication that people in their 40s and 50s are beginning to see that if they keep their minds very well stimulated it may be good insurance against decline later," said Engelman.Until the last 25 years, most scientists believed senility was an inevitable part of the aging process. That mindset, spearheaded by Engelman, has changed to a "use it or lose it" approach."My bias, of course, is that it can make a difference to do the mentally stimulating things, because the people who are isolated and aren't concerned about doing anything much, really can develop dementia quite easily," she said.For more information about Marge Engelman and her book, "Aerobics of the Mind," and a list of "Brain Teasers" you can try at home, click on this link. Marge Engelman, Aerobics of the Mind."Other helpful resources, Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Association -- (800)272-3900 Area Agency on Aging of Dane County -- (608)261-9930 The West Madison Senior Coalition -- (608)238-1260 For more information about Senior Learning Opportunities, visit the UW Division of Continuing Studies Web site at -- (608) 263-6960 or E-mail Sarah Schutt at sschutt@wisc.edu
TALKBACK: How Do You Exercise Your Brain? | VIDEO: Watch The ReportA gaining movement in America today, centers are making sure that well into your golden years, you've got a mind to match your healthy body.Dr. Marge Engelman, Madison, is a bit of a pioneer in the field of "brain aerobics". She's been working with seniors in Southern Wisconsin for the better part of the last 30 years, and is finally seeing people taking mental fitness more seriously."It's really like a movement now, like physical fitness used to be and now we're moving to brain fitness, and I think it's because people are concerned about their memories," said Engelman who has published two books on the subject.Studies now show the more information you feed your brain, the more you decrease your risk of dementia. "If you're bored, it probably means your brain is hungry," said Engelman.As seniors line up around the country to join the mental fitness craze, bigger entities are joining the fray. As more and more research pours in supporting theories that cognitive exercise reduces Alzheimer's risk, health insurance giant Humana announced this month it was joining forces with California-based Posit-Science to offer a brain fitness program to older adults.And now the movement is expanding to younger people. "There is more and more indication that people in their 40s and 50s are beginning to see that if they keep their minds very well stimulated it may be good insurance against decline later," said Engelman.Until the last 25 years, most scientists believed senility was an inevitable part of the aging process. That mindset, spearheaded by Engelman, has changed to a "use it or lose it" approach."My bias, of course, is that it can make a difference to do the mentally stimulating things, because the people who are isolated and aren't concerned about doing anything much, really can develop dementia quite easily," she said.For more information about Marge Engelman and her book, "Aerobics of the Mind," and a list of "Brain Teasers" you can try at home, click on this link. Marge Engelman, Aerobics of the Mind."Other helpful resources, Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
