Video games and elders

Research reported on January 22, 2010 suggests that video games might actually be great for seniors by keeping their minds focused and responsive. "There's a growing body of evidence that suggests playing video games actually can improve older adults' reflexes, processing speed, memory, attention skills and spatial abilities," said Jason Allaire, an associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and co-director of its Gains Through Gaming Lab. Allaire is part of a team that has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science foundation to study how video games can increase memory and cognitive skills in the elderly.

As Wii exploded on the scene a couple of years ago, retirement centers and senior day programs took notice, adopting the programs for their residences and participants. With games like Wii bowling, for example, studies show increased heart rate, making the game a natural for incorporating into exercise programs. In 2008 another piece of research conducted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign showed that cognitive abilities increased as well. Some residential communities have Wii challenges among themselves, drawing family and friends to watch and root for their teams, which adds the social element, also found critical for warding off many of the effects of aging, such as depression and isolation.

I can say for myself, having been introduced to Wii through my grandchildren, that Wii is surely a lot of fun. I find boxing the best for raising my heartrate...and causing a lot of laughter as I nearly knock out the TV each time! I love having my own "profile," too, and a set of improvement scores to brag about each time I play.

Do you play video games? Try playing one with an aging loved one and see what happens. What types of challenges? What joys? Please share your comments.

Dance Away Stress

Dancing with a partner lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which at high levels can wreak havoc in the human body. A recent study reported in the print magazine, Shape Your Life (December 2009), specifically talks about the tango as salve for romantic troubles. Cortisol fuels stress which often leads to anger. When squabbles turn more serious, stepping away and stepping out...with your partner, the article suggests, will turn down the stress. There is more, though. Dancing can raise levels of testosterone, the hormone with stimulates sexual attraction. The tango is mentioned because of its complexity; the more complex the steps, the better.

Dance as therapy has a place not only as part of physical rehabilitation in hospitals and rehab centers, but is added to the treatment of eating disorders, substance abuse and, more recently, autism. As the focus on brain fitness grows, dance plays a role, too. Not only does dancing increase the flow of blood throughout the body and brain, experts say that the demands of dancing engage the whole brain. Coordinating, balancing, counting and timing are all useful brain exercises. Furthermore, socializing is crucial for brain and physical health. Some dance classes are positioned as meditative, good for the body, good for the mind.

Get those dancing shoes out and work a few steps into your life on a regular basis. Dancing seems to be the perfect exercise!

Do you dance? How do you integrate dancing into your busy life?

Boomers and ski helmets

Findings of a survey conducted by members of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) last season, showed that the use of ski helmets is up in most age categories, especially among children and people over 65. The most resistant group is the so-called “middle-aged” skiers and riders. Is it vanity? Is it that peculiar sense of immortality we humans cultivate? Is it that until you have a ‘close call” you just don’t feel a helmet is necessary? Does it interfere with the thrill of skiing or snowboarding? Please leave a comment if you have some thoughts on this or if you are one of the “resistant” ones.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that nearly 8,000 head injuries a year could be prevented with helmet use. The NSAA findings suggest, however, that helmet use does increase with skill level. Over half of advanced skiers and riders wear helmets regularly. This season Vail Resorts has made helmet use compulsory for ski-area employees. Most resorts require helmet use for children taking ski lessons. And internationally, Austria leads the way with a mandatory helmet requirement for children under the age of 15.

Millions of people suffer closed head injuries every day. Many of these injuries are mild, resulting in minor and temporary symptoms, such as headache or dizziness. In these cases, the symptoms pass and there are seemingly no lasting effects. Concussion is the most common form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the brain is “shaken.” Some concussions create long-term injury. Knowing signs for severe brain trauma is critical to stop further brain damage. Signs of serious injury include, but are not limited to, confusion, drowsiness, changes in size of pupils, lack of coordination, slurred speech, changes to vision or other senses, and sometimes convulsions. Immediate treatment is recommended when any of these symptoms are present.

Head injuries account for ten to twenty percent of all snow sports related injuries according to some sources. Statistics vary widely internationally and cause some to make the case that the numbers of head injuries and deaths related to snow sports are small enough to challenge mandatory helmet use.

The National Football League has come under scrutiny recently regarding its previous policies regarding head injuries and its penchant for keeping mum on concussions and their effects on players over the years. The much-publicized new guidelines are keeping some players on the sidelines now.

If you have suffered a TBI, however, you know it can have lasting effects, memory loss and confusion among them. Read more about brain fitness strategies for combating the effects of mild TBI and do not miss this post about algae as brain food.

Check out my articles on adaptive skiing and snowboarding at Examiner.com.