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Do Brain Training Exercises Really Help In TBI Recovery?

A battle has been brewing over whether brain training really works, leaving consumers stuck in the middle, scratching their heads. * Many experts believe that brain-training programs are a waste of money. They roll their eyes at the idea that using such computerized programs can improve attention, memory or overall intelligence. * Some experts contend that brain training is useful and can improve cognition by harnessing the power of brain plasticity, the idea that our brains can learn new skills and adapt even later in life. They argue that there’s a difference between “brain games” and research-backed “brain training.” * A battle has been brewing over whether brain training really works, leaving consumers stuck in the middle, scratching their heads. Many experts believe that brain-training programs are a waste of money. They roll their eyes at the idea that using such computerized programs can improve attention, memory or overall intelligence. * Some experts contend that brain training is useful and can improve cognition by harnessing the power of brain plasticity, the idea that our brains can learn new skills and adapt even later in life. They argue that there’s a difference between “brain games” and research-backed “brain training.” * A group of 75 scientists and experts from institutions and universities around the world issued a statement in 2014 declaring that scientific evidence does not support claims that “brain games” help older adults boost their mental capabilities. * “We believed many of the claims made by the brain-training industry were misleading and in many cases patently false,” said Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and a psychology professor at Stanford University who was one of the scientists who signed the 2014 statement. * Brain-training supporters believe that certain software and training programs can improve cognition, but how do the experts that question brain training recommend keeping a healthy brain? * “Stay physically and mentally active doing the activities that you enjoy. For example, if you enjoy reading and playing crossword puzzles, do that,” Foroughi said. (Cnn.com)