Reducing Age’s impact upon Mental Abilities

Source: Lumosity, May 2012
(lots of great charts)

…. fluid and crystallized intelligence decline at different rates.  … age differences can be largely eliminated through training. Anyone of any age can improve—achieving brain performance comparable to that of a younger person!

26 responses to “Reducing Age’s impact upon Mental Abilities

  1. I believe your rating of BPI is compared for various ages. However, I think that no comparison is shown for ages above 75. Why? For those of us who stick around quite a few years longer, why do you not continue a 5 year incrememt? I know of at least one person who has a few years on me and uses your program. Do you have too few clients above 75 years old to reasonably evaluate their data?

    • Hi Larry:

      Many thanks for your comment and questions, but it is best directed at the source. I was just sharing the information extracted from the source.

      All the best, Mark

      • jERRY l. dAVIS

        I do know for certain that when playing lumosity brain games each day does inprove
        my overall brain.. some days I do not do as good as normal, however, I do realalize my brain has learned even more.. like lumosiity.com says each time you play lumosity games
        your brain does iimprove each time you play. That is so very true. After playing playing
        the brain games, I love to read all about all the research on brain functions that lumosity
        that is being done. matter of fact, I write down much of this research in my records.
        lumos labs contucts a vast amount of research on how the brain works, and various wAYS ON HOW TO IMPROVE OUR BRAINS. i AM SO BLESSED TO BE PART OF THE
        LUMOSITY TEAM. tHEY, TOO, HELP ME TO IMPROVE MY BRAIN, AND i FEEL GREAT
        ABOUT PLAYING LUMOSITY BRAIN GAMES EACH DAY.

        tHANKS TO THE LUMOSITY SITE FOR HELPING ME TO IMPROVE MY BRAIN FUNCTIONS.

        l.

      • Hi Mr. Davis:

        Thanks for sharing!

        All the best,
        Mark

  2. Hey, I’ll be 74 next month and first thought I was losing my mental abilities about 6 years ago, however I took a series of serious mental tests prescribed by my physician and found I had a higher than normal mental capability, which delighted me (of course); however, in the past 3 years I have noticed even more serious decline which is very depressing. A followup series of tests indicated a significant decline which is extremely disturbing, and I anxiously want to have any and all information on how to stop this decline and reverse it. Don’t underestimate us, very senior citizens, we want to be considered relevant especially where science is concerned.

  3. aS YOU KNOW i HAVE A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO PLAY LUMOSITY GAMES ON MY COMPUTER. i WAS THINKING MAYBE THE LUMOSITY GAMES CAN BE INSTALLED ON MY KINDLE FIRE. iF IT CAN, i DO NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL IT. pLEASE, MOST KINDLY EXPLAIN TO ME EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT. aGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT HELP.

    • Hi Jerry:
      My apologies, but I have no experience with the Kindle. Good luck!

      All the best,
      Mark

    • Jerry,
      Kindle Fire is an Android based device. According to Lumosity FAQ page, they only support Apple iOS devices such as iPad and iPhone. They do not support Android devices at this time but are working on it.
      I think there is a Flash app on Amazon which might allow you to use Lumosity on your Kindle Fire. I have no experience with the app so cannot say how well it works.

    • I have a Kindle FireII and I would love the same capabilities so that I can play on the move as I travel all over the globe. I mean all over the West.
      Laurette

  4. Frances K. Felder

    I am thirteen years past age 75 years, the highest age on your chart. Why don’t you compare
    those over 80 to each other, rather than 75+. Wouldn’t it be a truer measure?
    F. Felder

    • Hi Frances:

      My apologies for the belated response, but I think the study might have been lacking subjects in the target age group.

      Many thanks for your feedback!

      All the best,
      Mark

  5. Frances (and Larry P. above from January),
    Until they have stats for people above 75, it should be fun just to compare your BPI with younger participants. I’m 70; but I also like to look back and see how my scores compare with people who are 50 or 40. That helps me to know whether my thinking is comparable to those in their prime.
    Sometimes, though, my scores seem too high. I wonder, how much of the score is there to encourage us to keep playing?
    I hope other seniors enjoy these exercises as much as I do.
    Judy

  6. I agree with increasing the age groups to those over 75 yrs. I work in a medical office with mostly Geriatric patients, most are in their 80’s or 90’s and thriving. Just as any of us, these patients do realize when their brain functions decrease, and are greatly upset about it! I do recommend Luminosity to each of them, providing your website’s document explaining the process and its rewards. Patients who’ve tried it, swear by Luminosity. The only obstacle is computer access or familiarity. I wonder if there are any plans to set up low-cost Luminosity accounts @ Public Libraries? It would be such a great community service! Sign me, a Supporter of Seniors

    • Hi JB:

      I’m unaware of any plans to set up Luminosity accounts @ public libraries. Perhaps you can talk to your local library to see whether it might want to run a pilot project.

      Thanks,
      Mark

  7. I am curious to know if a 74 year adult who is suffering Lewy bodies demitia could benifit from luminosity?

  8. Sylvia Castillo

    In what way is brain speed affected during aging? Who is speed increased? In what ways does speed slow down…is it in the time it takes to enter a response or the calculation of a problem. Many times a response lag is due to the process of moving the mouse around to click an answer…this is not a fully controllable variable. I want to understand how you measure speed and the other components of this training.

  9. I’m 84 and concerned about forgetting things more than formerly. If nothing else, I think Lumosity may improve circulation to the brain, That can’t help benefitting my memory. It’s an adventure, regardless of results, though I am working for outcome…without attachment, I hope.

  10. For JB…What a great idea! If not the public library, perhaps local Senior Citizen’s organizations or even AARP &/or its affliated groups may consider support of Lumosity for their members. If I were a member, or aged related, or a Lumosity rep I would make an effort. But young whippersnappers are often underestimated or deemed unqualified to make such recommendations. That’s not sarcasm. It’s just too good of an idea to risk going unnoticed.

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