We’ve all seen an increase in the amount of educational toys and games on the market for kids in the last twenty years, but trends toward educational products for adults has been left somewhat behind, that was until recently. Studies done on the elderly, including newly discovered diseases such as Alzheimer’s, has brought the fitness of the aging brain to the forefront of today’s concerns for aging adults everywhere. Whenever a consuming social concern exerts itself, it is almost certain that a business or product will emerge in order to tap into the waiting marketplace filled with people who fit a particular mold. That particular demographic right now happens to be the baby boomer generation.
Adult educational toys and games are now being designed everywhere targeting the baby boomer generation and their marked worries about their aging brain. Mostly this demographic is looking to buy products to ward of the brain lethargy that often accompanies old age. Fortunately, there are a ton of products on the market ready to deal with this exact issue. But how do you pick the one that’s right for you?
The Wall Street Journal posted an excellent article titled “Putting Brain Exercises to the Test”, in which they critiqued different versions of these products in order to find what they think are the best products out there. WSJ tested several products including; Brain Age – from the makers of Nintendo, BrainBuilder.com – Advanced Brain Technologies LLC, Brain Fitness 2.0 – Posit Science Corp., Happy Neuron – Quixit Inc., MindFit – Cognifit LLT and MyBrainTrainer.com. In the end, they decided, through testing with a panel of 20 people, that the winners were; Brain Fitness 2.0 for clearness of directions and ease of use and MindFit, for it’s variety of tasks and visual appeal.
Check out this article if you are looking to buy this type of product, but be warned; even the article states that all scientists don’t support the “use-it-or-lose-it” mantra which underlies the development of products such as these. The belief that working out your brain like you do your body will prolong its usefulness, is not a universally accepted principal. Perhaps in this case we should revive the old mantra which is always touted on self-help products; “results may vary”.
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From Psych Central's World of Psychology:
Brain Fitness Expands, But Research Still Lags - World of Psychology (1/13/2009)
2 Comments to
“Worried about your aging brain? We have a product for that.”
Hi Jennifer:
Good summary.
You may be interested in our thoughts on how to select a Brain Fitness Program and know if one is working
http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/01/15/how-do-i-know-if-computer-based-brain-fitness-programs-work/
and our post on the Cognitive Reserve as part of the just science week
http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/02/06/cognitive-reserve-and-lifestyle/
Regards
These types of games sound great and are something I would be interested in purchasing because my experience has been that if I don’t use it I do lose it. Ever since I was young, I remember that I would have to re-learn certain things after the summer break because I wouldn’t practice any academics for those two months off.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 8 Feb 2007
