February 23^rd is World Thinking Day, and it’s a great time to pause and take stock of advances in the field of brain research.  We certainly have a lot to think about.  ADHD, aging and Alzheimer’s, oh my! The human brain is fascinating at any age and thanks to science and technology, especially functional magnetic resonance images (fMRIs), which are like high resolution brain x-rays, we can now see into the physical complexities of our amazing brains.

Medicine and education are also playing important roles in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of certain brain-related disorders. From soldiers and seniors to kids and those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, everyone is affected by the benefits of brain research. Here are some of the most significant brain-related breakthroughs and newsmakers from the last year. 

1. Brain training in urban schools: Funded by a grant for the National Science Foundation, a domestic brain training program increased the cognitive skills of kids in some of the worst performing schools in Virginia. The pilot program was so successful that Dr. Oliver Hill, Jr. testified at a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education hearing saying the program had “the potential to revolutionize education in general, and STEM education in particular.” Before the pilot brain-training studies, only one school in the district was accredited. Today, four out of the district’s seven schools earned accreditation; the remaining three met 26 of the 29 indicators; and Petersburg High School earned its full accreditation in the State Standards of Learning tests for the very first time.                        

2. Children taking ADHD medication: According to a survey done by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 84 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD take a prescription for the condition, despite the fact that many experience side effects from the stimulants. This is a significant finding, which highlights the importance of raising awareness of the effectiveness and availability of non-pharmacological interventions like brain training in the treatment or management of attention related conditions in our children.

3. Reversing age-related cognitive decline: A study from the University of California, San Francisco showed that brain training actually reversed damage to declining brains. The study (which was done on rats) found that after brain training, both the brain cell health and myelin density of the rats improved in the primary auditory brain regions.  The change was significant – restoring brain function nearly to the level seen in young rats. Post-mortem analysis also determined that the rats that had gone through brain training also had more inhibitory neurons and more specialized cells for sensory perception and brain plasticity.

4. The Army’s new blood test to detect Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): The Army has developed a new blood test that detects specific biomarkers for traumatic brain injury.  These unique proteins are only released into the bloodstream if the brain is jolted and brain cells are injured.  This is important news, particularly given that TBI is the signature and often undetected injury of the war in Afghanistan. Once identified, soldiers and veterans can get the help they need and deserve for improving the cognitive decline associated with their brain injury.

5. Preventing, slowing and treating Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) with brain training: Research suggests that the benefits of brain training reflect increases in cognitive reserve, which allows the brain to perform tasks even if there is damage to the pathways between brain cells. One study showed that those with the highest cognitive reserves had a 46 percent reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those with lower cognitive reserves. In addition, research studies suggest brain training can partially reverse dementia even after the first symptoms are apparent.  This is great news for all of us, providing valuable insight on how to take proactive steps to limit our risks for dementia, or, in the alternative, to potentially reverse its negative effects.    

If you’d like to know more about brain training to improve the function of your brain, whether for enhancement or remediation, visit www.learningrx.com/warren.

Marcia Douglas is the Owner and Executive Director of LearningRx Warren, located at 34 Mountain Boulevard, Building C in Warren, NJ.   Ms. Douglas graduated from Georgetown University and went on to earn a law degree from the University Of Virginia School Of Law. She was inspired to put her psychology background and education law experience to work by opening a LearningRx Center after the brain training program produced incredible results for one of her own children. To learn more about LearningRx brain training, stop by the Center, call 908-22-BRAIN, or visit the LearningRx Warren website www.learningrx.com/warren.