Category Archives: Mental Agility

Exercise & Brain: Four 2019 Articles

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At the end of this past December, the NY Times published an overview/review (Move Your Body, Bolster Your Brain) of four 2019 articles covering research work on physical exercise and brain health. We’ll recap these below, providing additional media links along the way.

A Single Workout Can Alter the Brain (How Exercise Affects Our Memory)

A study of healthy older adults shows that just one 30 minute session of exercise increased activation in the brain circuits associated with memory — including the hippocampus. The latter shrinks with age and is the brain region attacked first in Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are two additional media articles:
Exercise activates memory neural networks in older adults
30 Minutes of Aerobic Exercise Supercharges Semantic Memory

Here is a link to the research publication:
Semantic Memory Activation After Acute Exercise in Healthy Older Adults

How Exercise May Sharpen Memory (How Exercise May Help Keep Our Memory Sharp)

New evidence reaffirms suggestions that exercise-induced irisin, a hormone, may protect against neurodegeneration and boost memory in both humans and mice.

Here are three additional media articles:
How exercise may protect against Alzheimer’s
Exercise-Linked Irisin May Protect Against Neurodegeneration
‘Exercise Hormone’ Could Slow Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Here is a link to the research publication:
Exercise-linked FNDC5/irisin rescues synaptic plasticity and memory defects in Alzheimer’s models

Weight Training Changes the Brain (How Weight Training Changes the Brain)

Until recently the majority of research on exercise and brain health has been done with aerobic exercise, which indeed, has show that exercise is good for your brain. Now, new work using lab rats has demonstrated that weight training can overcome cognitive impairment and even jumpstart the creation of new neurons.

Here are three additional media articles:
Weight Training – Good for the Brain Too?
Research shows surprising link between weightlifting and cognition
Strong Rat. Smart Rat. Got That?

Here is a link to the research publication:
Resistance-exercise training ameliorates LPS-induced cognitive impairment concurrent with molecular signaling changes in the rat dentate gyrus

The Right Kind of Exercise to Lower Dementia Risk (The Right Kind of Exercise May Boost Memory and Lower Dementia Risk)

It is never too late to begin exercising. This study shows that even starting in your 60’s, you can reduce your risk of dementia. Short intense sessions may be the most helpful.

Here are three additional media articles:
Improved fitness can mean living longer without dementia
Being Physically Fit Reduces the Risk of Dementia
Robust Workouts Guard Brains & Health at Any Age

Here is a link to the research publication:
Temporal changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of dementia incidence and mortality: a population-based prospective cohort study

All the links above have been added to Health > Physical Exercise

Practical Mental Exercise For Brain Fitness

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Studies about what affects the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias are thick on the ground, and new ones pop up regularly. The things that turn up consistently for protecting your brain are:

  • Regular physical exercise (moderate to strong)
  • Staying mentally active (see articles below)
  • Staying social (from outings with friends to volunteer activities)
  • Good diet (tending towards the Mediterranean, Japanese, or Nordic diets)
  • No smoking (quit if you haven’t already)
  • Manage alcohol intake (from none to low)
  • Weight control and heart health (keep weight moderate and lower high blood pressure)

Here are three articles about keeping your brain fit by keeping mentally active in everyday life, by a memory champion, by an MD who runs a university memory clinic, and by a brain researcher about brain fitness in everyday life:

Keeping your brain fit, by a USA Memory Champion
Mind games: a mental workout to help keep your brain sharp
A brain scientist who studies Alzheimer’s explains how she stays mentally fit

All links have been added to Mental Agility

Scientific Support for Mental Exercises: Battle of the Open Letters

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When is a purported consensus not in fact a consensus?
On October 15, 2014, the Stanford Institute for Longevity and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development released a purported “Consensus on the Brain Training Industry from the Scientific Community” [1], which broadly asserted that there was no evidence that any cognitive training regimen can improve cognitive function, and was signed by 75 academics, mostly psychologists.

Then on December 17, 2014, a second group of doctors and scientists published a responding open letter, “COGNITIVE TRAINING DATA” [2] (henceforth, CTD), which stated: “Given our significant reservations with the [Stanford] statement, we strongly disagree with your assertion that it is a “consensus” from the scientific community.” As the press release issued in connection with that response [3] (referenced in [3a]) notes: “The [responding] letter is signed by 127 doctors and sci­en­tists, many of whom are lumi­nar­ies in the field of neu­ro­plas­tic­ity – the dis­ci­pline that examines the brain’s ability to change. Sig­na­to­ries include mem­bers of the National Acad­emy of Sci­ences, mem­bers of the Insti­tute of Med­i­cine, depart­ment chairs and direc­tors of pro­grams and insti­tutes, as well as sci­en­tists who are founders of neu­ro­science com­pa­nies. The sig­na­to­ries include sci­en­tists from 18 countries around the world.”

That answers the opening question: The purported consensus in the Stanford letter is not a consensus of the scientific community, despite it’s claim to be such.

Given the level of difference, and the significance to ordinary people concerned with their own aging processes, it’s worth looking into this a bit.

First, who are the authorities? From [4] we can gain a breakdown of the scientists constituting each group:

Of the 75 scientists who signed the “anti” brain-training statement, 54 are behavioural researchers while only 11 are neuroscientific/medical researchers. This means the majority of scientists (72%) who argue brain training does not work have explored this topic from a behavioural performance point of view (for example, using explicit tests to measure memory, learning, comprehension). A minority (~15%) of “anti” brain-training scientists have explored this topic from a physiological point of view (for example, using brain scans to measure brain function, structure, connectivity).

Conversely, of the 131 scientists who signed the “pro” brain-training statement, only 29 are behavioural researchers while 88 are neuroscientific/medical researchers. This means the majority of scientists (67%) who argue brain training does work have explored this topic from a physiological point of view, while the minority (22%) have explored this topic from a behavioral performance point of view.

Second, let’s look at the character of the Stanford open letter. The focus of concern, stated at the beginning of the Stanford letter, is:

Computer-based cognitive-training software — popularly known as brain games

while the final summary statement is:

We object to the claim that brain games offer consumers a scientifically grounded avenue to reduce or reverse cognitive decline when there is no compelling scientific evidence to date that they do.

From first to last, the Stanford letter only discusses “brain games”, and admits no distinction whatever between possibly different implementations of “computer-based cognitive-training software”.  That’s an extremely broad brush, indeed, covering everything from systems like Cogmed and Lumosity to the many sites with crossword puzzles or arithmetic practice, or combinations of such (e.g. Strong Brain), to sites like Posit Science/BrainHQ, founded by major neuroscientists, and boasting extensive scientific studies (cf [5] and [5a]).  Moreover, such a broad brush would tar (second)-language learning sites as well. Yet [6] and related papers demonstrate the power of second languages in cognition.

Rather sloppy for presumed serious scientists.

The Stanford letter neither reviews the scientific evidence claimed by some of the sites, nor does it dig in to the details of the games. It is indeed likely that some of the “brain games” provided by some of the brain training sites do not in fact have direct specific scientific studies validating that particular brain game. It does not follow that such brain games could not be scientifically validated, only that they have not so been validated. Other games on the sites may well have scientific backing.

Again, quite sloppy for presumed serious scientists.

Third, let’s look at the presence or absence of data.  The Stanford letter’s concluding statement is extremely strong:

there is no compelling scientific evidence to date that they [brain-games] do [reduce or reverse cognitive decline]

Wow! In court a judge will tell you that “Ignorance of the law is no defense.” And in every science classroom, you will be told that “Ignorance of the literature is no defense!”  The Stanford letter lists only seven references, and three of them are not concerned with brain-games (The effects of cardiovascular exercise on human memoryAerobic exercise and neurocognitive performance; Bridging animal and human models of exercise-induced brain plasticity), leaving only four references concerned with the topic of the “Consensus”.  On the other hand, the CTD site [2] has a link [7] to a partial list of 132 published studies on cognitive training benefits. Now, to establish the assertion

there is no compelling scientific evidence to date that they [brain-games] do [reduce or reverse cognitive decline]

the Stanford letter would have to refute substantially all of the CTD 132 studies (and more), which it in no way even attempts to do.

Moreover, the Stanford letter would need to refute the work of Kawashima and his group (cf [8]), also not addressed. One can make the case that Kawashima’s 2003 publication of Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain in Japan (cf [9] for the English language version) and its subsequent implementation on Nintendo DS as Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! kicked off the entire world-wide brain-training phenomena. It is worth observing that Kawashima’s original research leading to Train Your Brain, as well as the current work (cf [8]), relies on two non-computerized tasks:  elementary mathematical calculations and reading aloud.  Both of these, of course, can be implemented on computers in a wide variety of ways.

Establishing negative vs positive study results. In a setting in which there are potentially many (or unlimited) ways of accomplishing a given task, how does one prove that there is no method of achieving that task? One must explicitly or implicitly examine every possible method, and show that it will not work. When there are only finitely many conceivable methods, it is potentially possible to enumerate them and demonstrate that each does not achieve the task. But when there are an unlimited number of methods — as there are in brain training settings — much more is required.

The classic, gold standard for such arguments is found in mathematics and computer science, wherein it is proved that certain algorithms cannot exist (e.g. Gödel’s theorem on non-axiomatizability of arithmetic [10] and Turing’s proof of the unsolvability of the halting problem [11]). In these settings, an infinite number of possible algorithms for the problem exist, and it must be shown that each fails. The core of the arguments is to assume that solutions do exist, and then derive a contradiction. The bedrock of the arguments is that the underlying concepts — formal arithmetic (Gödel’s theorem) or computer programs and machines (Halting problem) — are given precise definitions, enabling contradictions to be derived.

Of course, nothing in the fields of human psychology or neuroscience even approaches such gold standards of precise definition and proof. But the principle remains: if one is to assert that no method can achieve a given task, one must at least create sound arguments attempting to enumerate and deal with all possible solutions, or to argue that no such method could possibly exist, even if not with the precision of mathematics.

The four brain-game-related references cited by the Stanford letter are, to one degree or another, concerned with the transferability of training effects of particular tasks to other (presumably related) cognitive areas such as fluid intelligence; in most cases, the task trained was working memory. All four papers performed an analysis of related studies, as well as direct experiments. Broadly, the results leaned towards finding some (but not many) short-term transfer effects, with no long-term transfer effects being observed. However, all that can be inferred from these is that the single memory training method employed in these experiments does not produce any long-lasting transference.

Implicit in the language of these papers and in their being cited in the Stanford letter is the conclusion that no training method for short term memory would transfer to other brain systems. But as noted above, all that follows is that the particular training method described in each of the papers does not provoke long-lasting transfers.

The basic question here is this: Does there exist a sufficient precise definition of “working memory” (or other cognitive subsystems) to support negative inferences as described above? The evidence would suggest: No. “Working memory” is typically defined in terms of or in contrast to “short-term memory”, which is typically defined in terms such as “faculties of the human mind that can hold a limited amount of information in a very accessible state temporarily.” (cf. [12])

Despite the belief that working memory is deeply entwined with many cognitive systems, why or how would the training of a subsystem such as working memory have transfer effects to other brain subsystems? It might be the case for certain subsystems. But without established neurological theories of the activity of the subsystems and their neurological interaction, it seems like guesswork to assert that training one subsystem will or will not produce long-lasting transfer effects to another, much less to be able to quantify the extent of such transfer.

The implicit assertion in these four papers is that since the training methods used did not produce long-lasting transfer effects, no other training methods would either. This, of course, is suspect.

One other (somewhat simple) criticism (which may not apply to all the papers) concerns the measurement of long-term effects some time after cessation of the training. That is, looking to see if the training effects “stick” without maintenance. This seems silly, rather like giving someone reasonable athletic training for some months, then letting them stop training, and after six months of being a couch potato, measuring the effects of the athletic training.

Conclusions?
Charitably, it would seem that the Stanford/Max Planck letter was somewhat ill-considered, and that at least some, if not many, of the signatories did not give it serious consideration before signing. That there always has been hype and hucksterism, if not outright fraud, around human development and medicine is obvious to everyone. Certainly, most of the Stanford letter signatories must have been concerned that the brain-game hype is getting overheated, and wanted to try to cool it off. However, to err as badly as shown above was just not wise. Much better to have carefully studied all the literature, developed a truly broad world-wide consortium of researchers and clinicians, and worked with regulatory authorities to develop and enforce standards of evaluation.

References

[1] A Consensus on the Brain Training Industry from the Scientific Community

[2] COGNITIVE TRAINING DATA

[3] Scientists to Stanford: Research Shows Brain Exercises Can Work

[3a] 127 scientists challenge the purported brain training “consensus” released by the Stanford Center for Longevity

[4] What Science Really Tells Us About Brain Training Games

[5] 100+ Published Research Studies

[5a] A Response to “A Consensus on the Brain Training Industry from the Scientific Community”

[6] Bilingualism, Aging, and Cognitive Control: Evidence From the Simon Task

[7] View a partial list of published studies on cognitive training benefits

[8] Reading Aloud and Arithmetic Calculation Improve Frontal Function of People With Dementia

[9] Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain, [2005]
Kumon Publishing North America, 172 pp.

[10] Gödel’s incompleteness theorems

[11] Halting problem

[12] Nelson Cowan What are the differences between long-term, short-term, and working memory?, in Progress in Brain Research, Volume 169, 2008, Pages 323–338.

Category: Mental Agility, Science

New: Brain Exercises & Driving

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We’ve added a new subsection under Mental Agility:

Mental Agility > Brain Exercises & Driving

Here are the initial research reports:

Brain gym helps elderly drivers avoid crashes
Elderly people who did 10 sessions of brain training had half as many crashes on the road as untrained counterparts – even though the training didn’t directly relate to driving itself.

Cognitive Training Decreases Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement Among Older Drivers
Full research report: To test the effects of cognitive training on subsequent motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement of older drivers.

Cognitive Speed of Processing Training Delays Driving Cessation
Full research report: Older drivers with cognitive speed of processing difficulties who completed speed of processing training were 40% less likely to cease driving over the subsequent 3 years

Research Papers for Mental Exercises

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We’ve added a new section

http://blog.strong-brain.com/mental-agility/research/

which contains links to original scientific research papers concerning mental exercises and brain fitness.  Initially this section contains links to 17 papers.  We will be adding additional links in the future.