📰 Brain Fitness News: April 2021

April 2021

Hello Voornaam,

Getting a $44.4 million from the National Institutes of Aging is a big deal. That’s how much was recently awarded to the PACT Study (Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training).

The grant was awarded to a team led by Dr. Jerri Edwards, who has been involved in several prior studies using BrainHQ exercises. This study will test the effectiveness of BrainHQ in preventing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia.

The study plans to enroll 7600 people, and won’t be done until 2027, because it takes time to track the development of dementia in a group of people.

I can’t overstate the importance of this study. Prior study results show that people can change the trajectories of their cognitive health, and we are thrilled to see BrainHQ put to this new test. For more information, read this article.

Best regards,

Jeff Zimman
Co-founder
Posit Science

Story Elements Engage the Brain

Whether you’re reading a mystery or watching a movie, stories can stir up a host of emotions. But according to Angus Fletcher, a professor of story science, stories often employ elements that engage the brain in other ways, too. From the plot twist to the “serenity elevator,” Dr. Fletcher shares eight story elements and how they affect the brain in this article from the Smithsonian Magazine. Learn more.

A New Angle on Alzheimer’s

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s is the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques damage neurons and disrupt function. A new study shows some hope for preventing the formation of these plaques. For the study, researchers looked at the lymphatic system—responsible for draining waste from the brain—in mice. They found that if they bolstered the lymphatic system, there was less buildup of amyloid-beta. Learn more about this interesting research.

Are Women’s Brains Different from Men’s?

Over the past 30 years, a lot of research has gone into seeking out differences between the “male” and “female” brain. But while some animals show vast differences in male versus female brains, a new study that analyzed decades of research found that there are very few reliable differences in the brains of human men and women. Learn more about this research.

Hippocampus Holdup

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is associated with forming memories. A new study shows that it is also involved in making predictions—and that it can’t do both at once. It has to choose, in the same way that we can “[use our] right foot to operate both the brake and gas pedals in a car…but not at the same time.” Find out how the researchers designed the study, and why it matters.

Just for Fun

In a new optical illusion, it looks like people are running up a set of stairs and then jumping off—but are they? See for yourself by going to this article, clicking the “See more” link under the Japanese writing, then clicking the arrow to start the illusion. The article explains why our brain misinterprets the visual scene, too. Watch it now!

News from BrainHQ

Coming soon: a new look for BrainHQ! For some time, our Art & Design team has wanted to update the overall look of the BrainHQ exercises. And now they have done so, with beautiful, vibrant backgrounds and cleaner, clearer buttons. We're also adding a new feature: the ability to practice with exercise stimuli outside of the exercise itself. These changes will be made in the very near future, so keep an eye out! For more detail and a visual preview, check out this blog post.

Book of the Month

Pandemic Anxiety: Fear, Stress, and Loss in Traumatic Times (2021)
By Margaret Wehrenberg

As of now, some nations seem to be over the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, while others are experiencing a terrifying rise in cases. One thing that has become clear is that the coronavirus can damage the brain just as it does other parts of the body. But even if you don’t actually get the virus, a pandemic like this can affect your mental state, causing anxiety and stress. In Pandemic Anxiety, author Margaret Wehrenberg offers neurobiological explanations of how this pandemic can affect us, as well as practical ideas for navigating this new reality. Learn more.

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