cognitive fitness and the mature workforce: opportunities and challenges

Cognitive Fitness and the Mature Workforce: Opportunities and

ChallengesChallenges

Alvaro FernandezUNCG, April 2009

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Please name the color of the word

In summary

Old dogs do learn new tricks

Slower in completely new areas

Faster in domains of expertise

Lifestyle factors and training can help Lifestyle factors and training can help protect that ability to learn

Not all old dogs are the same: age itself is not the best predictor of performance

Cognitive Fitness: the new frontier for HR departments

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Why Now? A Perfect Storm of Factors

© SharpBrains 2008

The number of people over 50 will double in 30 years. And it’s Baby Boomers.

The Aging Mind

Source: Denise Park, Roybal Center Healthy Minds

Debunking 10 Myths

1. Genes determine the fate of our brains.

2. Aging means automatic decline.

3. Medication is the only hope for cognitive enhancement.

4. We will soon have a Magic Pill or General Solution.

5. There is only one “it” in “Use It or Lose it”.

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5. There is only one “it” in “Use It or Lose it”.

6. All brain activities or exercises are equal.

7. After age X, no new neurons are generated in the human brain.

8. We all have something called “Brain Age”.

9. That “brain age” can be reversed by 10, 20, 30 years.

10. All human brains need the same brain exercise.

What contributes to Cognitive Fitness

Source: The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009

Tools for Augmenting Cognition

Type Research Areas Value Proposition

Invasive interventions

Drugs, stem cells, implants, explants, DBS, nutrition

Treat CNS indications

Non-invasive interventions

Software, VR, exercise, mindfulness, cognitive therapy, TMS,

Achieve specific outcomes (similar to physical fitness

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therapy, TMS, videogames, hypnosis

physical fitness paradigm), potentially becoming first-line treatment strategy

Lifestyle Sleep, music, stress, cognitive reserve, interacting with nature

Maintain cognitive wellness, increase neuroprotection

Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience, Augmenting Cognition April 2009 Issue, Alvaro Fernandez

How is this possible?

Graph by Elkhonon Goldberg, The Wisdom Paradox

- Brain biochemistry- Brain weight- Brain function

If you lived in London, and wanted to grow your hippocampus, which job would you choose?

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Source: Maguire, Woollett, & Spiers, 2006

Work = lifelong mental cross-training

The 4 Pillars of Cognitive Fitness

1. A balanced nutrition

2. Cardiovascular physical exercise

3. Stress management3. Stress management

4. Brain exercise: Novelty, Variety, Challenge (that doesn’t stress us out)

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39%14%6% 5%

What is the most important problem you see (n=2,087, January 2009)

Source: SharpBrains, The Brain Fitness Software Market 2009

21%

15%

Public Awareness Navigating Claims ResearchHealthcare Culture Lack of Assessment Other

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A call to action…

How is your organization getting ready to help solve these problems?

I. Awareness

II. Navigating ClaimsII. Navigating Claims

III. Research

IV. Health Culture

V. Assessment

VI. Other

© SharpBrains.

In summary

Old dogs do learn new tricks

Slower in completely new areas

Faster in domains of expertise

Lifestyle factors and training can help Lifestyle factors and training can help protect that ability to learn

Not all old dogs are the same: age itself is not the best predictor of performance

Cognitive Fitness: the new frontier for HR departments

© SharpBrains.

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Upcoming Publications:

Report: The State of the Brain Fitness

Software 2009 (April)

Book: The SharpBrains Guide to

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