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Mental ExercisesAging is often associated with mental decline that happens alongside with the decline of other bodily functions of the human body. In the first definitive study to confirm that mental exercises can slow and possibly reverse this decline was released in 2006 at the Journal of the American Medical Association by a research team led by Sherry L. Willis of the Pennsylvania State University. From anti aging perspective, one of the most striking results was that in the study group, middle-aged and elderly people, who did the basic exercises followed by later sessions were three times as fast as those who got only the initial sessions when it came to activities of daily living. In addition, the research group found that the brain boost from the mental exercises still had a significant effect 5 years after the exercises on the specific areas of learning that was taught to the groups (reasoning skills, memory skills, or mental speed training. The fourth, control group, got no training). According to the scientists who did the research, the key to mental training that slows mental decline is to get outside the comfort zone, to challenge oneself with harder and harder mental challenges. For example, if someone likes to solve crossword puzzles, it is important to make sure the puzzles get harder with time or challenge the mind with a new challenge, such as chess. Also, many organizations, such as Mensa, have developed mental challenge workout books that are widely available in bookstores. Mental Exercises - StudiesLong-term Effects of Cognitive Training on Everyday Functional Outcomes in Older Adults. Willis et al. JAMA.2006; 296: 2805-2814.
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