Tradition vs. technology, man vs. machine. The stakes are high. Let's get ready to rumble...This fight is to save your brain.
The good news is your brain can be saved. It seems both sides of the argument agree with research that shows mental stimulation and new activities can reduce memory loss and improve brain health. Where they differ is how to do it. On to the bout.
In this corner, Nintendo.
The Brain Game frenzy began in 2005 when Nintendo released its Brain Age. The handheld computer game has a series of challenges that test and improve the player's cognitive ability so they can get "the most out of (their) prefrontal cortex." If like me, you haven't worried much lately about your prefrontal cortex, rest assured: getting the most out of it is a good thing.
Sound cool? There's science to back it up. A study conducted by brain health software MindFit showed that it could improve short term memory by 18% and memory recall by 14%.
Extraordinary, but perhaps not as impressive as it seems. According to Timothy Salthouse, a psychologist at the University of Virgina, "Training on one kind of memory does not necessarily have any kind of impact on other kinds of memory." In other words, scientists don't know if getting better at brain games will mean your brain will fight off memory loss better.
In this corner, Quilting. 
Dr. Denise Park, a cognitive neuroscientist, says "if people get too engrossed in these computer games, maybe they're not exercising or engaging with other people." She's got a point. Mom always warned that my brain would turn to mush if I spent too much time in front of the screen. Instead of computer software, Dr. Park is experimenting with inexpensive or free activities that often include a social element, like quilting.
“It’s a very abstract task,” says Dr. Park. “You have to picture what the pattern will look like, match
fabrics, manipulate geometric forms, mentally rotate objects.”
Does this mean there's a back-to-basics movement in memory care? A panel of experts across the US and Europe determined that there were really three things to do to maintain brain fitness: physical exercise, mental exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.
According to this group, the key is variety. While jigsaw puzzles can help with abstract and creative thinking, they won't help you remember your grandkid's birthday. We tend to concentrate on the activities we enjoy and achieve a certain level of mastery, but that mastery limits our ability to re-sharpen the saw. To stay mentally fit, we must mentally cross-train.
And the winner is...
On one hand, the software is a proven-effective way to sharpen the mind. It's also almost certainly a new activity that could supplement a crossword puzzle or sudoku habit. Plus, the grandkids will think it's cool, even if you don't have an iPhone.
On the other hand, the software is expensive and less social than quilting, bridge, checkers or volunteering.
It's a draw!
The great news is they both work. Choose the activities that are outside your comfort zone and give them a try. While you're waiting for your brain game computer to reboot, do a crossword puzzle.
Now, I wonder if there's a quilting game on the Brain Age yet...
Sources:
"Is It Really Smrt to Teach Old Brains New Tricks?" - Washington Post
"Can Memory Loss Be Prevented?" - New York Times
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