Online Brain Training Programs for Healthy Older Individuals

Author(s):  
Blanka Klimova
SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401982767
Author(s):  
Ramy Sedhom ◽  
Daniel Sedhom ◽  
David Barile

There has long been recognition for improved education and training in aging and geriatrics. As the number of older individuals in the United States increases, with 20% being older than 65 years by 2030, it will become increasingly important for internists and medical subspecialty trainees to have proper training in the care of older adults. A survey was developed and administered to Internal Medicine Program Directors, to perform an educational needs assessment. The survey was administered during the beginning of the 2015 academic year via email. The survey assessed general program characteristics, details regarding required geriatric and palliative medicine teaching, opportunities for electives, barriers encountered at each training site, and future recommendations for improving the structure of resident education. Analysis of survey responses indicated that geriatric and palliative care education is lacking. Although all training programs provided some aspect of geriatric and palliative medicine training to internal medicine residents, only 27% of training programs had a formal curriculum in geriatric and palliative medicine. The majority had an informal curriculum. Very few programs reported using a multimodality approach; most used isolated experiences in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting. Although all residency directors believed curricular developments in geriatric and palliative medicine were important, very few have available faculty needed to facilitate curricular improvements. Almost all identified that they would use a restructured curriculum if it were readily available. Investment in developing content and a standardized curriculum in geriatric and palliative medicine would be very valuable and well received in New Jersey.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 554-554
Author(s):  
Shenghao Zhang ◽  
Nicholas Gray ◽  
Andrew Dilanchian ◽  
Dawn Carr ◽  
Mia Lustria ◽  
...  

Abstract The future of cognitive assessments and brain-training programs is very likely to involve mobile applications for phones and tablets. However, adherence to these programs over the long haul is notoriously low. In an effort to countervail this trend, we ran online focus groups with both older and younger adults to understand from a user-centered perspective how to better design apps to increase adherence. Using thematic content analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) with an inductive bottom-up approach (Frith & Gleeson, 2004), we found a surprising number of common themes across older and younger adults that superseded many of their superficial differences. For instance, both younger and older adults were reluctant to engage in the program unless it had some obvious perceived benefit; both wanted the program personalized to their individual preferences; both wanted the ability to customize features and reminders; and both generally agreed that the tasks had to be fun.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 708-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Pijnacker ◽  
Peter Verstraten ◽  
Wim van Damme ◽  
Jo Vandermeulen ◽  
Bert Steenbergen

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Simons ◽  
Walter R. Boot ◽  
Neil Charness ◽  
Susan E. Gathercole ◽  
Christopher F. Chabris ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 601-605
Author(s):  
Tiong Kung Ming

A new pencil puzzle, Speed++TM, was developed by combining and adapting the ideas of two popular Japanese pencil puzzles i.e. Kakuro and Numberlink. The novel characteristics of Speed++TM and its advantages are then compared to traditionally composed mental arithmetic questions used in practice and competitions by mental arithmetic associations. In particular, the new puzzles have a dynamic structure which in effect tests visual-spatial skills, memory, and concentration. The puzzles also look more appealing and are easy to produce through computer implemented algorithms. We further describe the potential of this puzzle as a more vibrant mental arithmetic challenge for mental arithmeticians and its viability for educational use in schools and brain training programs similar to Prof. Kawashima’s world famous brain training program.


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1005-1014
Author(s):  
Eirini Zoi Kontostavlou ◽  
Athanasios Drigas

  The purpose of this article is to clarify the relationship between Executive Functions (EF) training and giftedness. In this paper we provide a literature review of condemnatory literature. Executive Functions are a set of cognitive skills considered as necessary for the cognitive control of behavior and they are important for self- regulation and adaptation. The proper functioning of the executive functions is associated with high IQ. Moreover, executive function training can be achieved by brain training programs, that aim to improve basic brain functions. Through education, various tasks are improved. Techniques that improve cognitive skills can benefit individuals with superior mental abilities and can be used as intervention techniques to improve and develop giftedness. The training of executive functions can be achieved through brain training. Brain training is a scientific field that has highly progressed over the last years and has offered extremely interesting results that lead to new developments in the field of giftedness. After analyzing what brain training is, we refer to the executive functions that can improve through brain training. Afterwards, we refer to brain training programs, which have had positive effects on the training of executive functions. Resumen: El propósito de este artículo es aclarar la relaciόn entre la formaciόn de funciones ejecutivas y la superdotación. En este artículo proporcionamos una revisión de la literatura condenatoria. Las funciones ejecutivas son un conjunto de habilidades cognitivas consideradas necesarias para el control cognitivo de la conducta y son importantes para la autorregulación y adaptación. El buen funcionamiento de las funciones ejecutivas está asociado a un alto coeficiente intelectual. Además, el entrenamiento de la función ejecutiva se puede lograr con programas de entrenamiento cerebral, que tienen como objetivo mejorar las funciones cerebrales básicas. A través de la educación, se mejoran varias tareas. Las técnicas que mejoran las habilidades cognitivas pueden beneficiar a las personas con capacidades mentales superiores y pueden utilizarse como técnicas de intervención para mejorar y desarrollar la superdotación. El entrenamiento de las funciones ejecutivas se puede lograr mediante el entrenamiento del cerebro. El Brain Training es un campo científico que ha avanzado mucho en los últimos años y ha ofrecido resultados sumamente interesantes que conducen a nuevos desarrollos en el campo de la superdotación. Tras analizar qué es el entrenamiento cerebral, nos referimos a las funciones ejecutivas que pueden mejorar mediante el entrenamiento cerebral. Posteriormente, nos referimos a los programas de entrenamiento cerebral, que han tenido efectos positivos en el entrenamiento de las funciones ejecutivas.


Author(s):  
Amir Raz ◽  
Sheida Rabipour

How (Not) to Train the Brain offers a scientifically honest account of brain training. It demolishes unfounded claims often made for brain training programs, offering instead useful, proven, methods for improving mental performance and capacity. It reviews the apps, books, and other products that have emerged in recent years claiming to boost cognitive power and focus emotion, destroying well-established myths and misconceptions about the brain. It offers alternative, easily implementable techniques, including a list of commercially available products that readers may wish to consider. This title includes interviews with leading experts and practitioners working with different brain training and mental optimization approaches. These interviews provide unique insights into the foundations and development of brain training techniques.


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