Tag: aging

BrainHQ Crushes Competition in First Review of Science Behind Brain Apps

 

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first systematic review of study evidence that commercially-available, brain-training programs might help with healthy aging just published in Neuropsychological Review. The reviewers found that BrainHQ from Posit Science had by far the most and the highest quality studies.

The authors of this first systematic review conclude "current evidence supports that at least some commercially available computerized brain training products can assist in promoting healthy brain aging."

The reviewers surveyed the brain training market and the academic literature to categorize the quantity and quality of peer-reviewed studies showing effects of brain training in healthy aging.

They looked at 18 commercially-available, brain-training programs, and found that 11 had no clinical trials or empirical evidence for review.

The reviewers found seven companies had studies that were relevant, and met the review criteria of being peer-reviewed clinical trials of computerized exercises with formal cognitive outcome measures for healthy adults aged 50 and older. This methodology resulted in 26 studies for review.

Of those 26 studies, 10 were trials of Posit Science exercises.  Eight of those 10 studies were judged to be of the highest quality. Posit Science far outpaced its nearest competitor, which had three studies of which only one was considered high quality.

The reviewers wrote: "Multiple peer-reviewed articles evaluating Posit Science programs have fulfilled the gold standard for clinical trials."

Of the seven companies that the reviewers found had any relevant evidence from trials, Lumosity was found to anchor the lower-end, with what the reviewers described as one randomized controlled trial of "moderate quality."

The reviewers noted that until five years ago there were relatively few studies of brain-training programs. Even now, the lack of a systematic review has left "clinicians with inadequate information from which to base recommendations for their patients at risk of cognitive decline."

However, with this review the authors conclude that the evidence behind a majority of the programs evaluated supports "the notion that the human brain is plastic in later life, and can benefit from specifically designed brain training programs."

"There’s been a lot of conflicting reports on whether or not brain training works," said Dr. Ralph Martins, who led the review team.  "This systematic review shows that some brain training has lots of evidence of efficacy, which may surprise some health professionals. Personally, I was more surprised by the amount of brain training on the market with no evidence at all."

"This review performs an overdue public service by differentiating between what has been shown to work and what has little or no evidence," said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science, which makes BrainHQ. "It`s a strong response to those who have said that the evidence for brain training is `mixed` - what`s mixed is the scientific quality of different brain training programs, some of which have strong evidence for efficacy and some of which have none."

"This review marks a first step of treating brain training programs like we treat new pharmaceuticals - carefully evaluating which ones work, and then putting those to work to help people," Dr. Mahncke concluded.

Canada-wide competition seeks great new ideas to support healthy aging

Prizes total $75k in cash and in-kind services

 A national ideathon competition launched by AGE-WELL and HACKING HEALTH will take place in five Canadian cities in 2017. The goal is to identify and invest in great new technologies and services to support healthy aging.

Prizes awarded at the AGE-WELL–HACKING HEALTH National Ideathon will total $75,000 in cash and in-kind services.

Local ideathons are being held in: Toronto (Feb. 3), Montreal (Mar. 3), Halifax (May 13) and Vancouver (date to follow). One winning project from each local event will be eligible for the final round at the AGE-WELL 2017 Annual Conference in Winnipeg on Oct. 17-19, 2017.

People interested in taking part can sign up here. Eligibility criteria and competition rules and regulations are posted on the competition main page.

An ideathon is a collaborative, workshop-like event where diverse stakeholders harness their collective knowledge and creativity to brainstorm innovative solutions to pressing challenges. Participants use user-centric design techniques and methodologies (such as ideation, journey mapping and prototyping), and the creation of an initial business case, to propose a novel solution.

"AGE-WELL and HACKING HEALTH share an interest in bringing people together to develop creative solutions to health-related challenges," says Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director, AGE-WELL. "By partnering to host this competition, we will trigger more innovation and much-needed solutions to support the independence, health and quality of life of older people, and to support  their caregivers."

Luc Sirois, Managing Director and Co-Founder of HACKING HEALTH, a global initiative, says the partnership and competition will help to bring together tech and medical communities and "catalyze the innovation spirit."

Generous sponsors of the national competition are: Bereskin & Parr, the Impact Centre, and Aging2.0 Toronto.

About AGE-WELL

AGE-WELL NCE Inc. (http://www.agewell-nce.ca/, @AGEWELL_NCE) is a pan-Canadian network of industry, non-profit organizations, government, care providers, end users, and academic partners working to drive innovation and create technologies and services that benefit older adults and caregivers. Its vision is to harness and build upon the potential of emerging and advanced technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), e-health, information communication technologies (ICTs), and mobile technologies to stimulate technological, social, and policy innovation. AGE-WELL was launched in 2015 through the federally funded Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

About HACKING HEALTH 

HACKING HEALTH (http://hackinghealth.ca, @hackinghealthca) is a Canadian-based international non-for-profit organization. With over 40 cities across 5 continents, HACKING HEALTH's goal is to promote more innovation in healthcare through collaboration by putting healthcare professionals and patients at the centre of the innovation process, allowing participants to build realistic, human-centric solutions to front-line healthcare problems. HACKING HEALTH partners with renowned organizations and institutions such as AGE-WELL to develop a worldwide patient centered movement.

SOURCE AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE)

Hazing Aging - Book Review

hazing

Physician, Robert Buckingham believes the key to reversing the aging process lies within a group of cells that line the body's blood vessels, called the vascular endothelium. He wants to help as many people as he can through disease prevention to develop anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices that would serve people well in againg with grace.

His new book, “Hazing Aging” explores how maintaining the health of these cells through basic lifestyle changes can reverse effects of aging and drastically prolong lifespans. A lot of the clients that I work with are all going through some form of lifestyle change so I found this book very eye opening with the tactics that I will now implement with them. "Health care prevention does not have to be complicated or disjointed, rather it can be wrapped around a core understanding of vascular inflammatory risk mitigation." I am a firm believer and so is Dr. Buckingham that when you get older you don't have to hurt, your heart doesn't have to fail and that your brain does not have to rot.

I consider myself well educated based on my degrees, certifications and experience so I found this book very interesting because this is the first time that I had heard of the vascular endothelium which is a group of cells that line the body's blood vessels. These cells have evolved according to Dr. Buckingham in both structure and function to facilitate efficient and specific exchanges between blood and organs. He says that by focusing on theses cells, you'll improve end-organ function, reverse adverse effects of aging and live happier. After delving into the physiology I believe that this is possible but for some it does take a lot of change. I feel in my experience that the personal has to willingly understand and want the change and you can't force it on them. No one can change unless they desire it themselves deep down.

According to the National Council on Aging, approximately 92% of oder adults have at least one chronic disease. That's crazy to me. And so unfortunately. That means that you or a loved one could be suffering in the future from a chronic disease. Doesn't that make you want to do everything that you can to prevent that so that you can age with grace.

About The Author Robert L. Buckingham, MD, FACP, has been a practicing physician in Ojai, California, for thirty-six years. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he graduated as a James Scholar with an MD and a master’s degree in pharmacology. He firmly believes that all should be informed about health, longevity and anti-aging.

Check out this great video by Dr. Buckingham below explaining his book:

For more information please visit his site: http://www.drbuckingham-hazingaging.com

This 77-Year Old Grand Ma Can Lift More Than You. She is pretty amazing. This just goes to show you that you can be fit at any age. You just have to put in the work! Check out her lifting skills below in the video! You will be amazed! "It's about life. L.I.F.E" and its about "being the best I can be" she says. Lets take her advice!