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torrancememorial.org PULSE | 33 torrancememorial.org PULSE | 33 BRAIN GAMES AND PANACEA PILLS? We've all seen ads for programs that purport to provide mental stimulation to keep our brains sharp. Of course, they come with a price tag. Are they worth it? Probably not. "They haven't been proven to be effective in a scientific study," explains Torrance Memorial neurologist Ben Tseng, MD. Increasing your skill at brain games doesn't necessarily translate to increased acuity in other activities, he believes. BRAIN GAMES AND PANACEA PILLS? ADOPTING A BRAIN-HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN HELP KEEP YOU SHARP AS A TACK FOR YEARS TO COME. have families with strong family histories of early onset Alzheimer's disease, "We can predict when they are going to get the disease," says Dr. Ullman. Brain scans can detect amyloid plaque some 15 years before symptoms of the disease become apparent, and spinal fluid tests can detect amyloid up to 25 years in advance of symptoms. However he adds, the benefits of this testing are still controversial until we have effective treatments. Treatments to eliminate amyloid proteins from the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease have so far failed. But some of these treatments are now being evaluated in clinical trials targeting patients from families with genetic forms with early onset, as well as a group of older patients who are relatively asymptomatic. Dr. Ullman is hopeful these current studies will be fruitful, as well as new approaches to inhibit brain degeneration. However, there are proven benefits to more complex types of mental activity, both to delay the onset of dementia and to maintain a keen mental edge in general. From learning a language or finally mastering calculus to participating in a debate society, says Dr. Tseng, "There is value to stimulating the mind." The same holds true for nutritional supplements. "Supplements are not regulated," says Dr. Tseng, "so proceed at your own risk. They may not work, and in the worst case scenario they may give you some side effects that you don't really want." As with brain games, there is an important truth for those who look beyond the flashy ads for cure-all pills: proper nutrition and vitamins are crucial for your brain's health. In particular, vitamins D, B6 and B12, as well as folate (vitamin B9), are necessary for brain function. Older individuals, in particular, should check the levels of these vitamins and supplements with the advice of their primary care physicians.