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Cognitive Fitness and the Mature Workforce: Opportunities and
ChallengesChallenges
Alvaro FernandezUNCG, April 2009
© SharpBrains
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Please name the color of the word
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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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Why Now? A Perfect Storm of Factors
© SharpBrains 2008
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The number of people over 50 will double in 30 years. And it’s Baby Boomers.
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The Aging Mind
Source: Denise Park, Roybal Center Healthy Minds
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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”.
© SharpBrains.
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.
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What contributes to Cognitive Fitness
Source: The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009
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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
© SharpBrains.
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
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How is this possible?
Graph by Elkhonon Goldberg, The Wisdom Paradox
- Brain biochemistry- Brain weight- Brain function
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If you lived in London, and wanted to grow your hippocampus, which job would you choose?
© SharpBrains.
Source: Maguire, Woollett, & Spiers, 2006
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Work = lifelong mental cross-training
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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)
© SharpBrains.
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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
© SharpBrains.
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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.
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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.
![Page 17: Cognitive Fitness and the Mature Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070303/549091bdb47959640d8b51b7/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
SharpBrains: what we do & don’t do
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Report: The State of the Brain Fitness
Software 2009 (April)
Book: The SharpBrains Guide to
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