Research shows that after age 45, adults begin to lose the ability to engage in complex mental tasks such as focusing, shifting, and dividing attention, mostly due to biological changes in the brain’s frontal lobes.

Studies indicate that rigorous practice on challenging mental exercises can help to preserve brain integrity and sharpen mental skills (Ball et al., 2002 ; Sohlberg & Mateer, 2001).

The cognitive training approach has been applied to the treatment of different types of brain dysfunction such as traumatic brain injury (Sohlberg, McLaughlin, Pavese, Heidrich, & Posner, 2000), the effects of cranial radiation therapy (Butler & Copeland, 2004), and stroke ( Murray, Keeton, & Karcher, 2005); and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (Bell, Fiszdon, Bryson, & Wexler, 2004; Bell, Bryson, Greig, Corcoran, & Wexler, 2001; Fiszdon, Bryson, Wexler, & Bell, 2003; Lopez-Luengo, & Vazquez, 2003; Silverstein et al., 2004), major depression (Siegle, Ghinassi, & Thase, 2006), substance abuse (Fals-Stewart, 2006), and childhood ADHD (Monastra et al., 2004).

The cognitive training approach has also been shown to be effective in treating normal age-related decline in cognitive abilities. The largest study to date of cognitive training in 2,832 healthy older adults demonstrated that 10 sessions of reasoning, processing speed, or memory training led to an improvement in cognitive abilities equivalent to the amount of decline expected in non-demented elderly over a 7 to 14 year period (Ball et al., 2002).

The Brain Fitness Program at CBT/DBT Associates, under the direction of Dr. Jan Mohlman, a specialist in neuropsychology, is designed to improve cognitive abilities and preserve brain functioning. Participants in the program will engage in rigorous mental exercises over a series of four 2-hour group sessions. Dr. Mohlman will help each participant develop a personalized Brain Fitness Program to practice at home. She is also available for private consultations.

References

Ball, K., Barch, D. B., Holmers, K., Jared, B. J., Leveck, M. D., Marsiske, M., et al. (2002). Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 288, 2271-2281.

Bell, M., Bryson, G., Greig, J., Corocoran, C., & Wexler, B. (2001). Neurocognitive enhancement therapy with work therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58, 763-768.

Bell, M., Fiszdon, J., Bryson, & Wexler, B. (2004). Effects of neurocognitive enhancement therapy in schizophrenia: Normalisation of memory performance. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 9, 199-211.

Butler, G., Fennell, M., Robson, P., & Gelder, M. (1991). Comparison of behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 167-175.

Fals-Stewart, W. Computer assisted cognitive rehabilitation with drug abusers. Paper presented at the 9^th Annual meeting, Cognitive Rehabilitation in Psychiatry, June, 2006.

Fiszdon, J. M., Bryson, G. J., Wexler, B. E., & Bell, M. D. (2004). Durability of cognitive remediation training in schizophrenia: performance on two memory tasks at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Psychiatry Research, 125, 1-7.

Lopez-Luengo, B., & Vazquez, C. (2003). Effects of Attention Process Training II on cognitive functioning of schizophrenic patients. Psychiatry Research, 119, 41-53.

Monastra, V. J. (2005). Overcoming the barriers to effective treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A neuroeducational approach. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 58, 71-80.

Murray, L. L., Keeton, R. J., & Karcher, L. (2005). Treating attention in mild aphasia: Evaluation of attention process training II. Journal of Communication Disorders, 39, 37-61.

Siegle, G. J., Ghinassi, F., & Thase, M. E. (2007). Neurobehavioral therapies in the 21^st century: Summary of an emerging field and an extended example of cognitive control training for depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 31, 235-262.

Silverstein, S. M., Hatashita-Wong, M., Solar, B. A., Uhlhaas, P., Landa, Y., Wilkness, S. M., et al. (2005). Effectiveness of a two-phase cognitive rehabilitation intervention for severely impaired schizophrenia patients. Psychological Medicine, 35, 829-837.

Sohlberg, M. M., & Mateer, C. (2001). Cognitive rehabilitation. New York: Guilford.

Sohlberg, M. M., McLaughlin, K., Pavese, A., Heidrich, A., & Posner, M. I. (2000). Evaluation of attention process training and brain injury education in persons with acquired brain injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 22, 656-676.