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on September 14, 2022
Recently, many people have been asking themselves if they have "brain age" and how they can reduce "brain age" with over the counter adderall. This idea is a myth, fueled by a (very interesting) Nintendo game and a recent PBS campaign promoting a program by POSit Science.
The concept of "mental age" itself is unscientific. The PBS radio ad titled "Mental Fitness Program" is appealing to audiences of all ages (as many friends and colleagues have said), but buying Posit Science's mental fitness program can help your brain. You can expect it to be "updated" in 10 years. At PBS, we often hear this is true.
Unfortunately, it is not. And not because the claim is based on the same false idea that there is a "mental age".
what is happening
First, good news. Today, we know that the brain retains plasticity (the ability to change experiences) throughout life. Aging does not automatically mean decline.
In addition to over the counter adderall, we know that various lifestyle factors, including physical and mental exercise, can influence the development of mental abilities as we age. Not only that, but we can improve our abilities. Many computer programs have shown how they can help certain groups of people train and develop certain cognitive skills.
The point here is that there is no single "mental age" in general. We can see brain function and cognitive abilities as different skills. Some are intuitive, some related to memory, some related to language, some related to perception, some abstract thinking and planning. All of the science-based brain exercise products on the market today target specific cognitive skills. Published studies show how it can improve certain brain functions. But there is no general "mental age" that can be measured or trained meaningfully.
Let's analyze the messages related to PBS Posit Science. You can regenerate your brain for 10 years. What does this mean if it is true? Perhaps all cognitive abilities will return to what they were ten years ago. It can occur in individuals of any age, including those in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. It also means that with a restored "brain age," our risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms is adjusted to reflect our "new" brain age. The development of cognitive abilities reflects a newfound "brain age."
Was this mentioned?
Unfortunately no. The "10 years" claim seems to be based on one published study and some unpublished studies. In this study, individuals with an average age of approximately 70 years undergo a rigorous auditory processing training program that allows them to develop appropriate auditory cognitive skills to a significant degree. Over the counter adderall leads, on average, to levels equivalent to 60-year-olds in these specific skills.
But this does not say anything about other cognitive skills. Or the risks associated with Alzheimer's disease. Or the following cognitive theory.
Please think about it. If going to an intensive tennis camp allowed you to serve at the same level as someone 10 years younger, would you say your body is 10 years younger? Probably not. You will say that you have improved in tennis now. This is a great benefit in itself if that is what you are looking for.
Recent research has shown that there is a huge difference in age and how our behavior affects the rate at which our brains improve or decline. And it's never too late.
What can you do to keep your mind alive? Emphasize the four pillars of mental health: exercise, balanced diet, stress management, and mental exercise. Managing stress is important because stress has been shown to actually kill neurons and decrease the rate of new neurons being made.
In short, the big news is that there are more over the counter adderall medicines to assess and train different cognitive skills than ever in this still small but growing market today. Nintendo, Posit Science, etc. provide valuable products and services. The bad news (is this really news?) is that you shouldn't expect magic pills and that "brain aging" is a myth.
Posted in: Health
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