Depression
Every year, 18.8 million North Americans over the age of 18 are absorbed by a self esteem destroying gloom which can not be willed away or ignored. Depression affects all people regardless of age, geographic location, or social position. Research shows we can do something about it.
Isn’t depression just part of aging?
Depressive disorder is not a normal part of aging. Emotional experiences of sadness, grief, response to loss, and temporary “blue” moods are normal. Persistent depression that interferes significantly with ability to function is not.
In a given year approximately 18.8 million North American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the population age 18 and older, have a depressive disorder. When applied to the 2003 Census residential population estimate, this figure translates to 44.3 million people in the US and Canada.
The risk of depression in the elderly increases with other illnesses and when ability to function becomes limited. Estimates of major depression in older people living in the community range from less than 1 percent to about 5 percent, but rises dramatically and significantly to 13.5 percent in those who lose their independent lifestyle.
What to Do
Srong new science tells us that participants who engage in computerized brain exercises designed to improve visual speed, accuracy and expanse of processing, are 30% less likely to slip into clinical depression after 5 years. This shows that a small amount of the right kind of brain fitness training can help people experience a happier life even 5 years later. The risk of worsening depressive symptoms, one of the most common mental health problems experienced by adults, can be significantly reduced by cognitive training aimed at maintaining and improving the speed of information processing
The recent Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that internet use ranges from a high of 92% around age 25 and diminishes to about 42% after age 65.
Data from the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies, a non-profit think-tank in Washington, DC, shows that moderate online time reduces depression. The Phoenix Centre recommends computer-based brain fitness training for the elderly, since it can slow or even reverse age-related declines in perception and cognition.
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Study participants engaged in cognitive speed of processing training were shown to be 30% less likely to experience clinically significant worsening of depressive symptoms over a one and two year follow up, than those not so engaged.
Effective brain training creates a wholesome rhythm of brain exercise, challenge, reward and cell growth that helps combat and reduce the impact of depression. It has also been shown that depression can be related to the inhibition of new neural growth and that anti depressants need new nerve cells to be effective.
Brain Magic improves the speed of both auditory processing and visual processing as well as aural memory and visual working memory. It also gives a sense of well being and confidence from growing success that is remarkable.
With the Brain Magic protocol it is possible to increases working memory capacity from 50 – 80% while increasing fluid intelligence (a composite brain capability involving processing speed, working memory, multi-tasking and higher order processing) by an average of more than 40%. Fluid intelligence enhances the ability to find meaning in confusion and solve new problems, and understand the relationships of various concepts, independent of acquired knowledge.
The Brain Magic journey is an exciting one. You will be eased into a progressive training activity, which will guide you on your home computer through a series of steps which consult with you and adapt to you throughout the process. Along the way, the format changes in style and structure, and as your abilities grow, that growth leads to competence and up you go. The degree of gain is dose dependent. So enjoy the training and for those of you taking monthly, yearly, or lifetime memberships, remember, the more you train, the more you gain.
Please read all the articles below. They are helpful.
Cognitive training lowers the risk of worsening depressive symptoms
Unexpected Side Effect: Makes You Happier
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142612.php
Anti Depressants Need New Nerve Cells to Be Effective http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828084056.htm
Brain Plasticity: you CAN teach an Old Dog new Tricks
http://www.noprobo.com/posts/brain-plasticity-you-can-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks
Exercise Stimulates The Formation Of New Brain Cells
The Effect of Speed-of-Processing Training on Depressive Symptoms in ACTIVE
http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2009/01/01/gerona.gln044.abstract
Neurogenesis In Adult Brain: Association With Stress And Depression
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080831114717.htm
Changes in Cortical Dopamine D1 Receptor Binding associated with Cognitive Training
http://www.klingberglab.se/pub/McNab2009.pdf
New Brain Nerve Cells Key to Stress Resilience
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100331080859.htm
Requirement of Hippocampal Neurogenesis for the Behavioral Effects of Antidepressants
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/301/5634/805
Computer Exercises Improve Memory And Attention, Study Suggests http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211161932.htm
5. Regier DA, Narrow WE, Rae DS, et al. The de facto mental and addictive disorders service system. Epidemiologic Catchment Area prospective 1-year prevalence rates of disorders and services. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1993; 50(2): 85-94.
6. Narrow WE. One-year prevalence of depressive disorders among adults 18 and over in the U.S.: NIMH ECA prospective data. Population estimates based on U.S. Census estimated residential population age 18 and over on July 1, 1998. Unpublished.
7. Klerman GL, Weissman MM. Increasing rates of depression. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1989; 261(15): 2229-35.
8.Regier DA, Rae DS, Narrow WE, et al. Prevalence of anxiety disorders and their comorbidity with mood and addictive disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry Supplement, 1998; (34): 24-88
9. depressionperception.com/depression/depression_facts_and_statistics.asp#depressive