“You know, Curmudge, the thing I appreciate about the
neuroscientists we have studied is that they put their research findings right
to work helping people.
Researchers like Merzenich, Bach-y-Rita, Taub , Pulvermüller,
Ramachandran, and others mentioned in our earlier postings. And the more we surf, the more we
find.”
“Right as usual, Julie. Just last week I learned of the Center for BrainHealth at
The University of Texas at Dallas.
These
quotations describe their findings: ‘This research shows that neuroplasticity can be
harnessed to enhance brain performance and provides hope for individuals to
improve their own mental capacity and cognitive brain health by habitually
exercising higher-order thinking strategies no matter their age.’ ‘The study (on
individuals aged 56 to 71 using MRI techniques) found that one-hour sessions of
directed brain training per week for 12 weeks can alter brain function,
inducing increased blood flow, enhanced information communication across key
brain regions, and expansion of the structural connections between brain
regions related to new learning.’ “
“That’s what our earlier reading would forecast, Old Guy. It’s nice of the folks in Dallas to
prove it. They also said, ‘With
upwards of 8 percent increase in brain blood flow, this research shows that
participants are regaining measurable brain health. The brain and cognitive
gains may help achieve a younger working brain with all the benefits of rich
experience, knowledge base and wisdom as manifested in an older brain.’ “
“Wisdom. Older brain. That’s what I keep telling people, but
they just regard my comments as
the ranting of an old geezer. Go
you Texas Longhorns! I like what
you say, but I do wish you would tell us the specifics of your brain
exercises.”
“They do provide a Brain
Fitness Plan for people of all ages, Curmudge. It is described by Sandra Bond Chapman, director of the
Center for BrainHealth. ‘Making
our brains stronger, healthier, and more productive requires changing the way
we use them every day.’ Here is
what she suggests: ‘Quiet you mind. Take a break from whatever you’re doing
five times a day for at least five minutes to reset your brain. Translate
your world. Move away from
uninspired thinking. Synthesized
thinking strengthens the connections between different areas of our
brains. Stop multi-tasking.
Allow your focus to be uninterrupted for at least 15 minutes at a
time. Move your feet.
Aerobic exercise that elevates your heart rate at least three times a
week elevates blood flow to key memory centers.’ “
“Here’s some related advice for people of all ages who don’t want their
brain or body to die young. It’s
from a doc at the University
of Southern California. ‘Get off your butt more. Take your calls standing up.
Procrastinate once in a while.
Take timeouts throughout the day. Trade alcohol for sweat. Skip happy hour and go to the gym.
Check your e-mail less frequently. The average working professional spends roughly 23 percent
of the workday on e-mail. Eat like your dog—at the same time
every day. If you don’t eat
when your body anticipates food, it will sabotage your efforts to lose or
maintain an ideal weight.’ “
“Hey, Professor, it’s great to learn something of value to someone who is not demonstrably ill, like me, as
well as to someone who is
demonstrably old, like you.”
“Julie, you sure know how to make a person feel good. You are right, of course. So let’s move on to another topic
related to neuroplasticity. The
subjects are LSVT LOUD
and LSVT BIG.”
“I detect an acronym.
Please explain.”
“LSVT is Lee Silverman Voice Treatment. It is discussed in a review article by Fox et al. (1) ‘Recent advances in neuroscience have
suggested that exercise-based behavioral treatments my improve function and
possibly slow progression of motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson
disease.’ LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG
are focused, respectively, on the speech motor system and the limb motor systems.
‘The
unique aspects of the LSVT Programs include the combination of (a) an exclusive
target on increasing amplitude (loudness in the speech motor system; bigger
movements in the limb motor system), (b) a focus on sensory recalibration to
help patients recognize that movements with increased amplitude are within
normal limits, even if they feel “too loud” or “too big,” and (c) training
self-cueing and attention to action to facilitate long-term maintenance of
treatment outcomes. In addition, the intensive mode of delivery is consistent
with principles that drive activity-dependent neuroplasticity and motor
learning.’ “
“You wanted more specific exercises, Professor, and you’ll find them in
Table 1 of that review article.
One will, however, need a certified LSVT therapist for interpretation
and demonstration. The paper does
make the standardized intensity pretty clear: ‘Dosage: 4 consecutive days per
week for 4 weeks. Repetitions:
minimum 15 reps/task for LOUD or 8-16 reps/task for BIG. Effort: Push for maximum
patient-perceived effort each day.’ “
“We haven’t made it very clear in our postings, Julie, but every one of
the brain-and-computer or brain-and-muscle exercises that we have mentioned
requires the patient’s maximum dedication and effort. These activities don’t pay off without a lot of hard work.”
“And finally, Curmudge, one doesn’t have to go far to obtain the
benefits of LSVT LOUD or BIG. They
are practiced by LSVT-certified clinicians in the St. Elizabeth Hospital
Rehabilitation Department and at the Neuroscience Group in Neenah. Tell your neighbors in the old folks
home.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, young lady? It’s not ‘the old folks
home.’ And by the way, be sure to
come back for our next discussion on neuroplasticity. It will be an exploration of neuroplasticity research with a
peek into the future.”
Kaizen Curmudgeon
(1)
Fox, C., Ebersbach, G., Ramig, L. and Sapir, S. Parkinson’s Disease
Vol. 2012 (2012), Article ID 391946, 12
Link to posting from blog archives: Amazing Devices—Autoanalyzer, pulse oximeter—8/05/10
http://kaizencurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2010/08/amazing-devices.html
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