Software helps seniors exercise their brains
ZELIENOPLE — Residents at the Passavant Retirement Community are working to keep their brains alert and fit through computer software being used on campus.
Passavant is among more than 30 senior living communities in Pennsylvania and various others nationwide using Posit Science's Brain Fitness and InSight programs, which use auditory and visual response computer exercises to improve brain function.
The multistep Brain Fitness program began last fall, with the InSight program added this year. The Brain Fitness program features six separate computer exercises. The exercises use auditory stimuli that requires users to distinguish between or match items. There is also a listening comprehension exercise in which the user listens to a story and answers a series of questions.
A virtual driving exercise asks drivers to pick up different things like signs along the road.
The programs target the root causes of change in brain function that occur with age rather than trying to teach users how to compensate.
The programs also adjust to the users' abilities — getting harder if the user is showing marked improvements and getting easier if users are struggling.
Those participating in the Brain Fitness auditory excises are required to participate an hour per day, five days per week for eight weeks.
According to Passavant executive director Laura Roy, residents participating in the program have seen improvements in their daily lives, from more easily remembering phone numbers to becoming more self-confident.
Both computer programs engage the brain's neuroplasticity, or its ability to remodel at any age given the right conditions.
"In healthy aging adults, the average memory gain from the programs is 10 years," Roy said.
The programs are challenging, Roy explained, noting some residents say they feel exhausted after doing the exercises while others have energy to go swimming or take part in other activities.
Resident Linda Ankney, who plays the piano, said the program has helped her look at music sheets more quickly and better recognize the intervals.
Resident June Morrison said the program was "intense." "It really forces you to focus," said Morrison. "I've noticed its helped me concentrate more on my hearing."
Resident Carol Johnson said the program has helped her be more alert in general.
"The more you use it, the more you become addicted to it. It's good to hear the voices on the program over and over again," said resident Dottie Asimakis, who added it has helped her remember things like telephone numbers.
Roy said the InSight visual program is more challenging cognitively, but once residents learn how to use the computer mouse, the learning tasks are self-explanatory.
Although many studies have been done on the programs, the most recent was published in April in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study focused on 487 healthy adults over the age of 65. Half of them trained on a Brain Fitness software program for 40 hours over eight weeks. The rest spent time learning from educational lectures on the computer followed by quizzes.
The study found that participants who trained on the Brain Fitness program from Posit Science more than doubled their processing speed, with an average increase of 131 percent.
It also showed gains on standard measures of memory and attention of 10 years, on average. These changes were large enough that participants reported significant improvements in everyday activities, such as remembering names or understanding conversations in noisy restaurants.
As part of the ongoing program, Passavant is seeking volunteer coaches to support and encourage participants.
Candidates need to have computer ability, patience and good interaction skills and be available once or twice weekly for eight to 12 weeks. For more information, call 724-453-5414.
