"Memory: a child walking along the seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things."
- Pierce Harris
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
BRAIN FOOD - SWEET POTATO BAKE
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of brain food! They are rich in vitamin B6 (which help the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine, two very important neurotransmitters) and the anti-oxidants vitamin C and beta carotene.
Also, did you know that your brain needs carbohydrates?
This brain food recipe comes to us from Kimberly over in the west. Kimberly is a year two teacher and personally knows the advantages to keeping your brain healthy and active!
SWEET POTATO BAKE
3 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 large cooking apples (ie Granny Smith), peeled, cored and chopped.
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/8 cup whole wheat or plain flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1. Place sweet potatoes into a large saucepan and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 25 minutes, or until tender yet firm. Drain, cool and cut into 1 centimeter slices.
2. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Lightly spray oil into a 28 x 18 x 4 cm baking tin.
3. In a small bowl, mix the 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Layer sweet potatoes, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, brown sugar mixture and apples in the prepared baking tin.
5. In a medium bowl, mix flour, remaining brown sugar, butter and pecans. Spread over top of the apples.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.
Also, did you know that your brain needs carbohydrates?
This brain food recipe comes to us from Kimberly over in the west. Kimberly is a year two teacher and personally knows the advantages to keeping your brain healthy and active!
SWEET POTATO BAKE
3 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 large cooking apples (ie Granny Smith), peeled, cored and chopped.
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/8 cup whole wheat or plain flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1. Place sweet potatoes into a large saucepan and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 25 minutes, or until tender yet firm. Drain, cool and cut into 1 centimeter slices.
2. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Lightly spray oil into a 28 x 18 x 4 cm baking tin.
3. In a small bowl, mix the 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Layer sweet potatoes, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, brown sugar mixture and apples in the prepared baking tin.
5. In a medium bowl, mix flour, remaining brown sugar, butter and pecans. Spread over top of the apples.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
BRAIN FITNESS ACTIVITIES
“It is excellent that your organisation is getting the word out on brain fitness. I am very keen to start training, and have purchased the Brain Fitness Program Classic but what are some things I can do to keep my brain fit after completing the program?”
Learn to play a new instrument!
Now is the perfect time to dust off the piano, tighten your old guitar strings or polish the trombone! Learning and playing an instrument exercises several different aspects of brain function including sight, sound and refined movement.
Look in your local paper, online or telephone directory to find a music teacher close to where you live. You will be playing with the symphony orchestra in no time!
Learn to play a new instrument!Now is the perfect time to dust off the piano, tighten your old guitar strings or polish the trombone! Learning and playing an instrument exercises several different aspects of brain function including sight, sound and refined movement.
Look in your local paper, online or telephone directory to find a music teacher close to where you live. You will be playing with the symphony orchestra in no time!
Friday, December 12, 2008
BRAIN FOOD - MIXED BERRY CRUMBLE
Studies have shown that eating blueberries and strawberries can preserve the brain and boost the effectiveness of neuron signals, which can lead to improvements in memory and other cognitive skills.
This mixed berry crumble, in combination with healthy diet, is a simple and mouth-watering way to get your dose of brain food. While fresh berries are preferred, you may use frozen berries, which are readily available at most supermarket.
For extra benefit, we have added chopped walnuts!
This mixed berry crumble, in combination with healthy diet, is a simple and mouth-watering way to get your dose of brain food. While fresh berries are preferred, you may use frozen berries, which are readily available at most supermarket.
For extra benefit, we have added chopped walnuts!
MIXED BERRY CRUMBLE
2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen mixed berries
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoons whole-wheat or all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons canola oil
1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Combine mixed berries with granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and freshly squeezed orange juice. Divide among four 7.5cm ovenproof ramekins.
3. Combine oats, chopped walnuts, brown sugar, the remaining 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Drizzle with oil and stir to combine. Sprinkle over the fruit mixture. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
4. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.
IN THE MEDIA
From < >ABC News:
Forget brain drain, now it's brain gain
Posted Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:25am AEST
Updated Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:20am AEST
Western Australians will be the first in the country to have access to a brain fitness program which promises to improve memory function and cognitive ability by 10 years.
The computer software program is being launched today by Alzheimer's Australia, which says the programs are designed for older people with little or no experience using computers and will enable users to think faster, focus better and remember more.
Alzheimer's Australia says that if the programs are used 5 days a week for 8 weeks, a 130 per cent improvement in listening skills is expected, along with a 300 per cent improvement in a person's ability to process visual information.
David Gribble from Alzheimer's Australia says one of the programs can significantly improve a person's listening skills.
"Again clinical trial studies show that people improve their auditory processing by about 131 per cent," he said.
Forget brain drain, now it's brain gain
Posted Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:25am AEST
Updated Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:20am AEST
Western Australians will be the first in the country to have access to a brain fitness program which promises to improve memory function and cognitive ability by 10 years.
The computer software program is being launched today by Alzheimer's Australia, which says the programs are designed for older people with little or no experience using computers and will enable users to think faster, focus better and remember more.
Alzheimer's Australia says that if the programs are used 5 days a week for 8 weeks, a 130 per cent improvement in listening skills is expected, along with a 300 per cent improvement in a person's ability to process visual information.
David Gribble from Alzheimer's Australia says one of the programs can significantly improve a person's listening skills.
"Again clinical trial studies show that people improve their auditory processing by about 131 per cent," he said.
Mr Gribble says clinical trials have shown a 10 year improvement in memory function, while a person's ability to process visual information can improve by 300 per cent.
"Which of course has huge benefits for things like driving, playing sport, anything that requires rapid identification of visual information will benefit from that program as well."
<>http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/19/2368793.htm
IN THE MEDIA
The following is an excerpt from an article appearing 19 September 2008 on Bio-Medicine.org:
"New Brain Fitness Program to Fight Memory Loss
PERTH, Australia, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Australians will be the first in the country to take part in a brain fitness initiative that has been shown to improve a person's ability to think faster, focus better and remember more.
The brain health initiative will be launched by Australia's Aged Care Commissioner Rhonda Parker on behalf of Alzheimer's Australia WA at the Duxton Hotel on September 19th as part of Dementia Awareness Week 2008.
More than 30 peer-reviewed papers report on randomized controlled trials using the technology now being offered in two cognitive training software programs being distributed by Alzheimer's Australia WA. The studies show that participants using the software programs more than doubled their processing speed and had gains of more than 10 years in standardized measures of memory and attention. This has led to significant lifestyle benefits for people experiencing normal age-related changes in brain function.
Alzheimer's Australia WA General Manager David Gribble said the programs that will be offered in Australia were developed and extensively trialled by US company Posit Science in conjunction with one of the world's leading neuroscientists, Dr Mike Merzenich, and his team at the University of California. The programs have also been extensively researched over many years by renowned research institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, University of Southern California and Stanford University.
"The results from these studies have shown that people who went through the brain fitness programme added about 10 years to their cognitive abilities and memory functions," Mr. Gribble said.
"This meant people were more likely to live independently for longer, while reducing their health care expenditure and experience a better quality of life."
To read the entire article <>CLICK HERE
"New Brain Fitness Program to Fight Memory Loss
PERTH, Australia, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Australians will be the first in the country to take part in a brain fitness initiative that has been shown to improve a person's ability to think faster, focus better and remember more.
The brain health initiative will be launched by Australia's Aged Care Commissioner Rhonda Parker on behalf of Alzheimer's Australia WA at the Duxton Hotel on September 19th as part of Dementia Awareness Week 2008.
More than 30 peer-reviewed papers report on randomized controlled trials using the technology now being offered in two cognitive training software programs being distributed by Alzheimer's Australia WA. The studies show that participants using the software programs more than doubled their processing speed and had gains of more than 10 years in standardized measures of memory and attention. This has led to significant lifestyle benefits for people experiencing normal age-related changes in brain function.
Alzheimer's Australia WA General Manager David Gribble said the programs that will be offered in Australia were developed and extensively trialled by US company Posit Science in conjunction with one of the world's leading neuroscientists, Dr Mike Merzenich, and his team at the University of California. The programs have also been extensively researched over many years by renowned research institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, University of Southern California and Stanford University.
"The results from these studies have shown that people who went through the brain fitness programme added about 10 years to their cognitive abilities and memory functions," Mr. Gribble said.
"This meant people were more likely to live independently for longer, while reducing their health care expenditure and experience a better quality of life."
To read the entire article <>CLICK HERE
IN THE MEDIA
The following is an excerpt from NineMSN, Saturday 20 September 2008:
"Brain-fitness plan can improve memory
A US-designed software program set to be introduced in Australia can add an average 10 years of speed, accuracy and recall to an individual's brain age, Alzheimer's Australia says.
The lobby group's West Australian branch has released the results of the two-year study to find the optimum brain-fitness plan to improve memory function and recall.
The brainchild of US neurosurgeon Mike Merzenich, the program needs to be used for 40 minutes a day, five days a week for eight weeks to have the optimum effect.
The trials, peer-reviewed in medical journals, also showed that listening skills improve by up to 131 per cent.
But Alzheimer's Australia says even if it is not maintained on a regular basis, the benefits can last for 12 to 18 months."
To read the full article please CLICK HERE
"Brain-fitness plan can improve memory
A US-designed software program set to be introduced in Australia can add an average 10 years of speed, accuracy and recall to an individual's brain age, Alzheimer's Australia says.
The lobby group's West Australian branch has released the results of the two-year study to find the optimum brain-fitness plan to improve memory function and recall.
The brainchild of US neurosurgeon Mike Merzenich, the program needs to be used for 40 minutes a day, five days a week for eight weeks to have the optimum effect.
The trials, peer-reviewed in medical journals, also showed that listening skills improve by up to 131 per cent.
But Alzheimer's Australia says even if it is not maintained on a regular basis, the benefits can last for 12 to 18 months."
To read the full article please CLICK HERE
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
BRAIN FITNESS ACTIVITIES
“It is excellent that your organisation is getting the word out on brain fitness. I am very keen to start training, and have purchased the Brain Fitness Program Classic but what are some things I can do to keep my brain fit after completing the program?”
It seems that every day we are asked that question and we applaud your positive interest on how to keep your mind motivated. There are many ways to develop and maintain a healthy mind. Learning new and developing old skills to better choice of foods and physical activity.
It has inspired us to create a series devoted to different brain fitness activities you can do to keep your brain healthy and encourage its natural plasticity.
So without further ado, let’s get started with the inaugural post of BRAIN FITNESS ACTIVITIES!
“Don’t tell fish stories where people know you; but particularly don’t tell them where people know the fish.”
- Mark Twain
Get to know fish that is rich in Omega-3, such as Atlantic salmon, mackerel, blue fin tuna and sardines. Studies have shown that eating these types of fish at least once a week can improve cognitive functions.
Maggie Beer has a fantastic recipe for “Salmon Poached in Olive Oil with Tomato and Avocado Salsa”. This recipe can be found in the cookbook Recipes for a Healthy Mind.
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Recipes for a Healthy Mind is available only through Alzheimer’s Australia WA (08) 9388 2800
It seems that every day we are asked that question and we applaud your positive interest on how to keep your mind motivated. There are many ways to develop and maintain a healthy mind. Learning new and developing old skills to better choice of foods and physical activity.
It has inspired us to create a series devoted to different brain fitness activities you can do to keep your brain healthy and encourage its natural plasticity.
So without further ado, let’s get started with the inaugural post of BRAIN FITNESS ACTIVITIES!
“Don’t tell fish stories where people know you; but particularly don’t tell them where people know the fish.”
- Mark Twain
Get to know fish that is rich in Omega-3, such as Atlantic salmon, mackerel, blue fin tuna and sardines. Studies have shown that eating these types of fish at least once a week can improve cognitive functions.
Maggie Beer has a fantastic recipe for “Salmon Poached in Olive Oil with Tomato and Avocado Salsa”. This recipe can be found in the cookbook Recipes for a Healthy Mind.
.jpg)
Recipes for a Healthy Mind is available only through Alzheimer’s Australia WA (08) 9388 2800
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
ALL ABOUT BRAIN FITNESS
Brain training is the buzz word of our time.
Maintaining mental sharpness is one of the keys to successful ageing. Brain fitness training not only slows decline in mental sharpness, but can reverse some of the loss already experienced
Australia's Aged Care Commissioner Rhonda Parker says, “Brain fitness training challenges the notion that we are somehow pre-programmed to inevitable decline in later life, in fact, the data shows that much of the decline in later life is result of lifestyle choices, and training the brain works in the same way that fitness training benefits the body.”
Brain plasticity is the idea that our brains are “plastic” and have the ability to change in response to new learning and stimuli. It challenges the notion that our brains become “hard wired” and cease to alter its structure and abilities after the first year of life
The brain’s natural plasticity means that the brain has the capacity to grow and change right up to death. Engaging that plasticity through brain fitness training has shown to not only improve cognitive abilities but can counter effect normal age related cognitive decline.
"As people live longer, mental fitness is as important as physical fitness as we look for ways to extend quality across all our days,' Ms Parker said.
Using the right tools and exercises, including a proper diet, will keep our brains fit and on top of its game.
Stop back often as we introduce you to different ways you can keep your brain fit and healthy!
Maintaining mental sharpness is one of the keys to successful ageing. Brain fitness training not only slows decline in mental sharpness, but can reverse some of the loss already experienced
Australia's Aged Care Commissioner Rhonda Parker says, “Brain fitness training challenges the notion that we are somehow pre-programmed to inevitable decline in later life, in fact, the data shows that much of the decline in later life is result of lifestyle choices, and training the brain works in the same way that fitness training benefits the body.”
Brain plasticity is the idea that our brains are “plastic” and have the ability to change in response to new learning and stimuli. It challenges the notion that our brains become “hard wired” and cease to alter its structure and abilities after the first year of life
The brain’s natural plasticity means that the brain has the capacity to grow and change right up to death. Engaging that plasticity through brain fitness training has shown to not only improve cognitive abilities but can counter effect normal age related cognitive decline.
"As people live longer, mental fitness is as important as physical fitness as we look for ways to extend quality across all our days,' Ms Parker said.
Using the right tools and exercises, including a proper diet, will keep our brains fit and on top of its game.
Stop back often as we introduce you to different ways you can keep your brain fit and healthy!
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