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• What's the difference between "Scientifically Validated" and "Scientifically Based" programs?

  The difference is enormous. A "scientifically validated" program has had its effectiveness verified by clinical trials.  Extensive periods of research and development have gone into the design of these products. Part of the R&D involves fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) that enables researchers to see images of changing blood flow in the brain associated with neural activity. This allows images to be generated that reflect which structures are activated (and how) during the performance of different tasks. Armed with this knowledge, neuroscientists are able to build an exercise program that ensures that all parts of your brain are getting a full workout. The ability to exercise all sections of the brain, and thus achieve a better connected brain, is one of the key advantages that scientifically validated cognitive software training programs have over other forms of exercise that improve cognition, e.g. reading books, Sudoku, computer games, physical exercise etc. Another key advantage that software programs have over traditional forms of cognitive exercise is the ability and accuracy with which they can continuously adapt to the users threshold of ability.

  The best scientifically validated cognitive software programs also have assessment exercises - separate from the training exercises - that tailor the user's training schedule so that the areas of the brain being exercised are the sections that need it most! It is important that the assessment exercises are separated from the training exercises as this ensures the assessment feedback is showing genuine changes in the levels of cognitive functioning, without any possible distortion created because of the user's increasing familiarity with the training exercises themselves.

  Whereas with "scientifically based" cognitive training software the quality/degree of actual science that has been involved in the research & development of the program can vary alarmingly. Without validation there is no conclusive proof that you are getting a thorough brain workout.

  With many of the scientifically based programs the reporting feedback is based on the users improvement in performance of the training exercises, a method which is prone to distortion. The lack of an appropriate benchmarking platform can produce potentially misleading results in terms of the users genuine level of cognitive abilities. It leaves open the possibility that a reported improvement in the users cognitive abilities is actually just an increasing familiarity with the exercises involved.

  Manufacturers of scientifically based games often attempt to mimic the look & feel of the scientifically validated cognitive training software programs, but don't be fooled, you get what you pay for! A scientifically based program may provide you with entertainment that looks similar to the higher quality programs, but not necessarily be providing you with significantly better brain functioning.

  John F.Kennedy described the human mind as “our most fundamental resource” Aristotle stated that “the energy of the mind is the essence of life”. Given how critical your brain health is to your overall quality of life Navon's policy is that we only stock world's best practice programs that are clinically proven by independent 3rd party research to significantly improve cognitive functioning.

• Is it scientifically proven that MindFit can improve cognitive skills?

  Yes, a double blind clinical trial has shown that computer based training improves the cognitive functions of the 50-plus crowd.

  The trial was conducted the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre of the Tel-Aviv University in Israel, where researchers are taking a leading role in the study of age related disorders. During the two-year clinical trial, doctors conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind study with active comparators of 121 self-referred volunteer participants aged 50 years and older. Each study participant was randomly assigned to spend 30 minutes, three times a week during the course of three months at home, using either the MindFit or sophisticated computer games.

  While all study  participants benefited from the use of computer games, MindFit users experienced significantly greater improvement in the following cognitive domains:

  • Spatial short term memory
  • Visio-spatial learning
  • Focused attention
  • Mental Flexibility

  Additionally, MindFit users in the study with lower baseline cognitive performance gained more than those with normal cognition, showing that the potential therapeutic effect of home-based MindFit training in those already suffering the effects of aging or more serious diseases.

  Ongoing trials are been conducted and to find out more go to our science section.

• What do people mean when the say “use it or lose it” in reference to brain training?

  The brain is a muscle. Like any muscle in the body, you can change its  shape and performance level with  a well planned and properly balanced exercise regime.  If you don’t exercise your brain your cognitive abilities will decline more rapidly, whereas due to “brain plasticity” your cognitive abilities can be maintained and most cases increase if you adhere to a proper brain training programme.

  Research shows that mental effort can also stimulate generation of new brain cells. It is now known that the brain can produce new brain stem cells that migrate to the areas where cells are needed, and “learn” from the surrounding cells to perform the required function. This is the mechanism responsible for recovery following brain injury or stroke.

• What is brain plasticity?

  Brain plasticity [also known as neuroplasticity] is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences...the ability of the brain to change with learning.

• What are cognitive abilities?

  Cognitive abilities are the brain-related skills and mental processes that are needed to carry out a task – from the simplest to the most complex. Every task can be broken down in to the different skills that are needed to complete that task successfully.

• What is cognitive decline?

  Cognitive decline is the process whereby a brain cell, because it is not receiving sufficient oxygen and nutrients, does not sprout new branches and therefore is less often stimulated , which makes it a prime target for cell death. Since these cells are idle and have no major impact on brain functioning, their loss can go unnoticed early in life. However, there comes a point when the amount of loss of brain cells can result in noticeable  cognitive impairment, e.g. Alzheimer’s.

• About what age do cognitive abilities tend to decline?

  A recent study published in the Neurobiology of Aging supports the  premise that our brain starts to decline around the age of 40. That is when, even healthy individuals, start to drop parts of the insulation [Myelin]  in the motor-control, and our speed starts to slow.

  N.B. Do not despair, the study also shows that an exercised brain could spot deteriorating faster and alert repair cells to fix the problem.

• Can we prevent cognitive decline?

  For many years the accepted wisdom was that everything that grows much eventually shrink, and things that develop would inevitably decline. Consequently, so went the argument, cognitive loss is a necessary by-product of normal ageing, and there is not much that we can do about it. Indeed, initial studies comparing groups of people from different age groups, tended to corroborate this notion. It was only with the publication of the important prospective studies, following the same individuals over many years, that the true picture started to emerge:  

   

  • While there is a clear slowing down in cognitive processing in older people, this is not of a magnitude that has functional implications. In other words, as we grow older things take longer than before, but the delay does not lead to quality decline as well. One would have to look at the specialised activities that are extremely speed sensitive, such as being a fighter pilot, in order to translate this slowing down process to a meaningful loss of function. Safe driving of a car is clearly an important issue in its own right.  
  • There are very significant individual differences in the amount of cognitive loss between different people. While some show major loss, there are others who show no loss at all.  
  • Furthermore, even in case of loss, it is not evenly distributed across areas of activity. The areas of particular interest to a person tend to be protected from loss.

• What is cognitive reserve?

  Cognitive reserve indicates a resilience to neuropathological damage, but the emphasis here is the way the brain uses its damaged resources.

  It could be defined as the ability to optimize of maximize performance through differential recruitment of brain networks and/or alternative cognitive strategies.

  The ability of an individual to tolerate progressive brain pathology without demonstrating clinical cognitive symptoms.

  Brain training builds additional neural pathways, this  means that the brain has more avenues with which to connect, this is also known as “brain reserve capacity”. 

• What is Nerve Growth Factor [NGF]?

  The heightened activity of a brain cell enhances its production of Nerve Growth Factor [NGF], which helps maintain cell health. Furthermore, each single cell can sprout up to 30,000 branches, making it a well-connected member of a huge network of cells.

• What cognitive conditions can your programs help?

  Preliminary study results demonstrate that the  MindFit™ program can help people with cognitive symptoms related to a number of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis , chemo-brain, and others. Research into efficacy are ongoing but the results so far have been very promising.

• Do your programs prevent Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s?

  Unfortunately nothing can prevent these conditions. However, regular training with the program might postpone the appearance of cognitive symptoms.

• Can training with your programs mask or hide an illness related to cognitive deterioration?

  On the contrary , the program is sensitive to detect minute changes in cognitive functioning.

• How are our programs for healthy aging better than playing bridge or crossword puzzles?

  Certain kind of games and hobbies served us well for many generations as tools for sharpening our wits. However, even amongst the best of them, such as chess and bridge, have some very obvious limitations. Chief amongst them is the narrow band of cognitive skills that they exercise. In the case of chess, it is primarily visual perception, long term focusing of attention, and memory for similar positions. Experienced chess players can recall hundreds of important games played by themselves or others and rely heavily on experience. Many moves become almost automatic, drawing on well rehearsed routine openings. Bridge trains short-term memory and some basic combinatorial skills. The bidding conventions become routine. Crossword puzzles exercise almost exclusively recovery from lexicon, and are often repetitious.

  In many respects the personal computer, more than anything, provides an ideal tool for exercising the mind. This is primarily due to its ability to adjust the level of challenge to each person individually. It is very easy to err on this account. Consider, for example, the level of challenge of a crossword puzzle. If it is too difficult, after a few futile attempts we would likely give up. If it is too easy, and we feel that there is little or no challenge involved, this will quickly become boring and we will lose interest.

  It is only when the puzzle is at its optimal level of challenge that it has the capacity to mobilise our attention and get us deeply involved. In the case of the crossword puzzle that is merely the matter of luck, and there is nothing that can be done to effectively optimise that challenge for us.

  The situation becomes dramatically different when a computer is involved. It can measure the exact time it took to carry out a particular task, and whether we completed it successfully. On the basis of such information, it can adjust the difficulty of the current task, or select another one best fitting our needs

  The computer’s ability to present well-designed stimuli, in both visual and auditory modes, is another important advantage.

• Is it still a good use of time to do other kinds of activity to keep the brain healthy?

  We believe a variety of lifestyle changes prove to be helpful in maintaining cognitive function. Everything from diet to physical exercise to social interaction and hobbies are helpful. We plan to help guide people in choosing ordinary activities, so that they know which ones are most likely to be beneficial, to stay updated sign up for our newsletter.

   

  However, we also believe that our programs play a fundamental role in maintaining and revivifying brain function, and are more effective and efficient form of cognitive training exercise.

• Do you plan additional randomized controlled trials on your programs?

  Yes, just as research and development in new products is ongoing, so are randomized controlled trials into the impact cognitive training has on our lives and in particular their impact on several brain-related conditions.