I've got one more reason to hate traffic!!!

I’ve recently noticed several studies related the effects of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution on brain function and longevity. The research shows that air pollution may harm the brain and affect cognitive processes negatively.

One study looked at people over the age of 51 and found that those who lived in areas with a lot of air pollution had lower cognitive scores than people who had lived in unpolluted areas. The results were normed to take social status and education level into account.

In a second study, conducted at Ohio State University, the research team looked at the effect of pollution particulates in the brain of mice. They found that exposure to pollutants affected the hippocampus- the brain area responsible for learning and memory formation. The exposed mice’s hippocampi had less neuronal growth than those who were not exposed.

Even the London Telegraph reported couple of years back, that the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) had identified as many as 200,000 Britons were exposed to levels of pollution that appeared to shorten their lives significantly–by an average of about two years.

This is a very impotant field of study, and Shirsa is looking forward to seeing additional research findings in this area, as we have many people who identify as suffering from “pollution-related cognitive decline” and seek solutions for improving brain function.

- Team Shirsa

Brain Training with Crossword Puzzles?

There has been a lot of debate over the years about whether or not working crossword puzzles can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. 

It’s all a little confusing. Here’s the scoop: Crossword puzzles are great as a cognitive workout, but they cannot prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. Unfortunately, nothing can prevent a person from developing AD. However, doing brain stimulating activities that incorporate novelty, variety and complexity can help build your cognitive reserve and reduce the effects of dementia and AD. Anyways, crossword puzzles are still a great way to sharpen your cognitive skills.

Four Ways Crossword Puzzles Benefit Your Brain

1.     Enhance vocabulary  

2.     Strengthen word recall and memory

3.     Stimulate problem solving skills

4.     Improve focus and attention

If solving crossword puzzles is part of your routine, try changing it up a little. Variety and novelty are crucial components of cognitive reserve. Look for other word puzzles like acrostics or try a book with multiple kinds of word challenges.

If you get stuck, look up the information. Use the internet or reference guides to get info on a clue rather than looking at the answers. You are more likely to remember the information for future puzzles if you search for that information rather than just looking at the answer key.

- Team Shirsa

Kids & Meditation?

Using meditation with children?

That's something which never never crossed my mind, but an article in the most recent issue of Scientific American Mind revealed that there are classrooms in Canada and the U.S. that have incorporated it into their curriculum. 

A program called Mindup, conceived by Goldie Hawn, has had great success in Vancouver area elementary schools and is catching on in other countries as well.

One of the main benefits that educators, administrators and researchers are finding is that this type of curriculum can help strengthen executive control function in children. Executive function includes cognitive skills like working memory, reasoning, self-regulation and attention, this all are crucial for classroom teaching.

Many teachers say that self-regulation and attention are two of the biggest areas in which young students struggle. Meditative style exercises can help them gain awareness of the conflict that arises in them when many things are competing for their attention. The ability to monitor this conflict and prioritize where their attention should go “has been linked to better math achievement, higher IQ and less antisocial behavior, it can also reduce anxiety levels in children.

 All children may not be able to sit still for very long, but even a few minutes can be beneficial.  Exercises can be as simple as paying attention to your breath or guided imagery. Children can visualize the waves on the ocean or a lake or balloons floating up that lift thoughts connected to negative feelings away. The exercises typically last 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Parents can also use these techniques and exercise at home as well. If your child struggles with frustration, or anxiety or, paying attention and sleep related difficulties. 

- Team Shirsa

KIDS - TV, Video Games, and Attention:

A recent study in the journal Pediatrics extended the concern over the impact of the amount of time kids spend on video games in addition to television. Many studies had shown a link between time spent on television and difficulty focusing and paying attention in class.  This newer study tracked over 1,300 kids in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades for over a year and extended the association between time spent not just on television but also on video games and difficulty paying attention.  


The report’s conclusion is:
“Viewing television and playing video games each are associated with increased subsequent attention problems in childhood. It seems that a similar association among television, video games, and attention problems exists in late adolescence and early adulthood.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation is that children spend no more than 2 hours per day with television and video games combined.  The study found that the median exposure of these children was almost four hours and that there was as much of an impact on reported attention problems for television viewing as for video game playing.  

And the report went on to say:

“Those who exceeded the AAP-recommended amount of daily television and video game exposure were more likely to be above average in attention problems …”
Why might this be the case?  The brain becomes trained to expect the level of engagement and activity based on exposure to its environment.  Spending significant amounts of time interacting with content that moves at a pace faster than what a child would have in the classroom will make the class experience less interesting.

- Team Shirsa

What is ‘SHIRSA’ ? and why is it necessary?

20 years ago, going to the gym wasn't something the average person did. Now, it seems, everyone has a gym membership, or finds another way to exercise regularly. That’s because a revolution took place from last decade : we all learned how important physical exercise was for our overall health and well-being.

Brain fitness is the next step in that revolution. Just as you can exercise your abs, biceps and quads, you can exercise your memory, attention, and more such skills. As with physical exercise, brain exercise can help you improve your performance, make you feel confident , happy, and even live longer.

To learn more about Brain fitness Training and  how it works, how it  makes right for you, follow Shirsa Blog Regularly.

-Team Shirsa

Brain Fitness in Your Daily Life, Is it important?

As a society, we are all starting to understand the importance of keeping our brain sharp, at every age. Our brain is our most important asset! It allows us to function everyday at a high level.

By building and working our brain's key areas, we can enhance our ability to maintain our memory, concentration and problem solving skills. We all need to be more proactive and look for ways to maximize our brain's capabilities.
The goal for Shirsa is to provide novel and complex stimuli for all key areas of the brain. In addition, we aim to make our program fun and engaging so that you integrate brain fitness into your daily life.

More research is starting to be published supporting the benefits of brain fitness. A recent study from the University of Michigan showed participants improved their fluid intelligence after consistent brain training.

-Team Shirsa

"Shirsa.me"
An online brain training program