| Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains | | | | "magic solutions" that work for everyone and |
| Dr. Arthur Kramer is a Professor in the University of | | | | everything. We prefer to talk about several pillars of |
| Illinois Department of Psychology, the Campus | | | | brain health, and different priorities for different |
| Neuroscience Program, the Beckman Institute, and the | | | | individuals. Can you elaborate on what interventions |
| Director of the Biomedical Imaging Center at the | | | | seem to have a positive effect on specific cognitive |
| University of Illinois. | | | | abilities and individuals? |
| I am honored to interview him today about recent brain | | | | DK: Perhaps one day we will be able to recommend |
| research findings focused on how to maintain a | | | | specific interventions for individuals based on genetic |
| healthy, strong brain. | | | | testing, for example, but we don't have a clue today. |
| Alvaro Fernandez (AF): Dr. Kramer, thank you for your | | | | We are only beginning to understand how the |
| time. Let's start by trying to clarify some existing | | | | environment interacts with our genome. |
| misconceptions and controversies. Based on what we | | | | But I agree on the premise that there probably won't |
| know today, and your recent Nature piece (Note: | | | | be a general solution that solves all cognitive problems, |
| referenced below), what are the 2-3 key lifestyle | | | | but we need a multitude of approaches. And we can't |
| habits would you suggest to a person who wants to | | | | forget, for example, the cognitive benefits from |
| delay Alzheimer's symptoms and improve overall brain | | | | smoking cessation, sleep, pharmacological interventions, |
| health? | | | | nutrition, social engagement. |
| Dr. Kramer (DK): First, Be Active. Do physical exercise. | | | | Physical exercise tends to have rather broad effects |
| Aerobic exercise, 30 to 60 minutes per day 3 days | | | | on different forms of perception and cognition, as seen |
| per week, has been shown to have an impact in a | | | | in the Colcombe and Kramer, 2003, meta-analysis |
| variety of experiments. And you don't need to do | | | | published in Psychological Science (Note: referenced |
| something strenuous: even walking has shown that | | | | below). |
| effect. There are many open questions in terms of | | | | Cognitive training also works for a multitude of |
| specific types of exercise, duration, magnitude of | | | | perceptual and cognitive domains - but has shown little |
| effect...but, as we wrote in our recent Nature Reviews | | | | transfer beyond trained tasks. |
| Neuroscience article, there is little doubt that leading a | | | | No single type of intervention is sufficient. Today there |
| sedentary life is bad for our cognitive health. | | | | is no clear research on how those different lifestyle |
| Cardiovascular exercise seems to have a positive | | | | factors may interact. The National Institute on Aging is |
| effect. | | | | starting to sponsor research to address precisely that. |
| Second, Maintain Lifelong Intellectual Engagement. | | | | AF: To wrap up, what's in your mind the best way to |
| There is abundant prospective observational research | | | | explain the relative benefits of physical vs. cognitive |
| showing that doing more mentally stimulating activities | | | | exercise? From a fundamental point of view, it seems |
| reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms. | | | | clear that physical exercise can help enhance |
| Let me add, given all media hype, that no "brain game" | | | | neurogenesis (Note: the creation of new neurons), yet |
| in particular has been shown to have a long-term | | | | learning/ cognitive exercise contributes to the survival |
| impact on Alzheimer's or the maintenance of cognition | | | | of those neurons by strengthening synapses, so I see |
| across extended periods of time. It is too early for | | | | more how those two "pillars" are complimentary than |
| that-and consumers should be aware of that fact. It is | | | | "one or the other". |
| true that some companies are being more | | | | DK: I agree. Given what we know today I would |
| science-based than others but, in my view, the | | | | recommend both intellectual engagement and physical |
| consumer-oriented field is growing faster than the | | | | exercise. However, we do know, from a multitude of |
| research is. | | | | animal studies, that physical exercise has a multitude of |
| Ideally, combine both physical and mental stimulation | | | | effects on brains beyond neurogenesis, including |
| along with social interactions. Why not take a good | | | | increases in various neurotransmitters, nerve grown |
| walk with friends to discuss a book? We lead very | | | | factors, and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood |
| busy lives, so the more integrated and interesting | | | | vessels). |
| activities are, the more likely we will do them. | | | | AF: Dr. Kramer, many thanks for your time. |
| AF: Great concept: a walking book club! Now, part of | | | | DK: You are welcome. |
| the confusion we observe is due to the search of | | | | |