Could mind gyms be the next big thing? Dr Elaine Mulcahy reports on research showing that regular mental exercise can keep your brain healthy into old age.
They know all the short cuts. They spend hours poised wide-eyed before computer screens, absorbed in virtual worlds. And they can frequently be found perched on bar stools, resolving life's biggest issues. Homo sapiens masculinus hibernicus - a.k.a. the Irish male - is a marvel of modern neuroscience, it seems.
Recent discoveries are leading scientists to believe that a brain kept active through a range of mental challenges - reading maps, playing strategic videogames and debating various topics - could prolong mental well-being by slowing down the degeneration of the brain in old age.
Scientists traditionally thought that once adult brain cells died they could never be replaced. For generations they told us that brain structure was laid down early in life and that once connections were made they could never be changed; that the brain you had as an 18-year-old was the brain you were stuck with for life - or, at least, until you hit older age, when, one by one, the tiny nerve cells that created your very existence began to wear off, fail and die. Memory loss, slower movement and bad driving were inevitable: "It's just old age."
But researchers now believe the human brain to be highly flexible and able to adapt to changes in its environment. If you spend a lot of time doing one thing, for example, your brain will adjust accordingly, developing more nerve cells and connections for the task. And this is why the typical male might be on to something.
A study of London taxi drivers - who know the back streets better than the backs of their hands - published in the prestigious Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America found that the highly sophisticated mental map of London that the cabbies had acquired over the years was accompanied by an enlarged hippocampus, a part of the brain believed to be involved in spatial learning and memory. This was linked to a similar study of animals, which reported that mice that live in cages filled with toys, wheels and tunnels develop far more brain cells than mice living in cages without playthings.
The lesson to be learned from these studies is that a brain engaged in learning in a sensory-enriched environment will develop more nerve cells, which could be of benefit when things begin to break down. According to Elkhonon Goldberg, a professor of neurology at New York University and director of the private Institute of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Performance, a well-connected brain may be better able to ward off brain disease and dementia in later life. Also important is the fact that these neuronal growths occurred in adult humans and animals, which means it is never too late to reinforce the old nerve supply.
Other studies have demonstrated how engaging in activities that challenge the mind can benefit you in a variety of other tasks. It was recently discovered, for example, that regularly playing action videogames can enhance your visual attention capacity and your ability to respond to objects appearing randomly within your visual field. These skills would be useful for soldiers in combat, fighter pilots and even motorists - anyone who needs to be alert and capable of reacting quickly in a constantly changing environment.
Another study found that the lively discussion and social debate that typically accompany a few beers in the pub might be good for your well-being. The researchers reported that taking part in activities that require a high level of concentration or social interaction can improve your ability in a variety of cognitive tests, such as verbal memory, mathematical reasoning, vocabulary and verbal fluency. As drinking to excess can have the opposite effect - loss of memory, poor logic and slurred speech - the key, as always, is moderation.
Researchers are now beginning to explore ways that we can benefit from these findings. Goldberg believes that the best results come from engaging the mind in a range of mental activities, to stimulate different regions of the brain. He is designing specialised "cognitive workout programs" - in effect, gym sessions for the mind.
Goldberg believes that, just as the past decade has seen a revolution in the physical fitness industry, accompanied by a boom in the number of gyms and personal trainers, the next decade could see one in the mental fitness industry. "Eventually specialised programs will become widely available. I expect [mental fitness\] to be embraced like physical fitness," he says.
Although a number of studies have illustrated that changes occur in the brain when we engage in mental activities, the jury is still out on whether this will prolong our mental well-being in the longer term. Only time will tell the efficacy of programmes such as Goldberg's cognitive workout routine.
In the meantime, we need to explore the evidence that already exists - and there certainly is some that supports the idea that a brain kept active throughout a person's life is less likely to succumb to dementias of the brain.
Educated people appear to be better protected against dementia, for example. The American nuns of Notre Dame provide an excellent example. Described by Goldberg in his book The Executive Brain, the nuns are renowned for their longevity. Living a life of mental excitement, the sisters constantly challenge themselves with puzzles, card games, teaching and debates.
The consequence is a lack of dementia. In fact, one of the order, a Sister Mary, was found after her death, at 101, to have a brain entangled with the brambly plaques that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Despite this, the symptoms never seemed to appear throughout her long life.
The plaques can build up over five decades. So people suffering from Alzheimer's in their 80s may have started to develop the tell-tale signs as early as their 30s, stressing the need for awareness to begin sooner rather than later.
Orla O'Sullivan of Mental Health Ireland says the charity targets most of its mental-health-promotion projects at post-primary-school students. "Mental health is far more than the absence of mental illness and has to do with many aspects of our lives," she says.
Evidence can also be taken from living legends. Visit any bridge club in the country and you are bound to encounter a number of people well into their 80s and still playing a clever game of bridge. Deise Bridge Club, in Dungarvan, has 60 members; many are in their 80s and still playing regularly. Justin Spratt, a member of the club and a National Master of bridge, says: "The beauty of bridge is it keeps the mind active and is a wonderful challenge and a great social occasion for old people."
Bridge, videogames and debate are just a few of the many ways we may choose to activate the mind. As Goldberg says: "Any vigorous and varied mental activity is good. Do something different from your workday routines."
Do something different Neuropsychologist and author Prof Elkhonon Goldberg says changing your routine every now and again to include a new mental activity is a good way to stimulate the mind. This could be anything from visiting an art gallery to memorising numbers in a phone book, as long as it's different.
Enrich your environment The brain is stimulated by the sights and sounds that surround it, so it is a good idea to avoid the monotony of seeing and hearing the same thing every day. Try moving the furniture about or visiting the zoo.
Challenge your mind Cryptic crosswords, computer games and card games that require a high degree of logic, memory and linking of information are an excellent way of engaging the frontal lobes of the brain, where the highest levels of mental activity occur. The frontal lobes are also one of the first areas to go in dementia.
Communicate Engaging with people, being aware of your surroundings and discussing social issues keep the brain motivated and forward-thinking.
Take up a new hobby Learn to play a musical instrument or study a new language. Go back to basics with long division and avoid using calculators.