Brain Health Blog

Cognitive training and aging

K. Warner Schaie and Sherry L. Willis are two of the more important researchers in the area of aging and cognitive training. They oversee the Seattle Longitudinal Study, which followed adults across many years as they grew older, regularly monitoring their cognitive status. Among their most important findings:

  • Through cognitive training (exercises for the brain), older people can improve their abilities.
  • Those who have had a decline in their thinking abilities can get back to where they were 14 years earlier.
  • Certain abilities are more likely to decline with age than others. Four abilities that typically get worse are:
    • processing speed
    • reasoning
    • memory
    • spatial orientation
  • Cognitive training can impact everyday tasks. For example, reasoning training can make people better at solving problems around the household or logistics of transportation.

Reference:

Schaie, K. W., & Willis, S. L. (2005). Intellectual functioning in adulthood: Growth, maintenance, decline and modifiability. Washington, D.C.: American Society on Aging and Metlife Foundation.


5 Comments

  1. Posted June 23, 2008 at 5:47 pm | Permalink

    How Do i buy Lumosity Games.

  2. Posted June 23, 2008 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

    You can start with a 7-day free trial here: http://lumosity.com/sign_up

    You will then have the option to purchase if you like what you see.

  3. bravopappa.2
    Posted June 24, 2008 at 10:06 am | Permalink

    How do you read the rest of the article? What do you click on? I cliked on everythinf at the end of the blurb and nothing worked!!!

  4. Posted June 25, 2008 at 1:34 pm | Permalink

    The thing that I found useful in this post was references. Really a nice post. Cann’t resist to comment.
    thanks
    lifecentury

  5. anoymous
    Posted July 9, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    Suggestions. It would be nice to have some auditory brain training. I am actually pretty good with the visual stuff, not so good for hearing side of things. Thanks!

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