Mental exercises help schizophrenia
Interesting article in New Scientist:
Brain training in a computerised mind gym could help people with schizophrenia cope with the debilitating cognitive problems caused by the condition.
The obvious schizophrenic symptoms – such as having animated conversations with people who aren’t really there – can be controlled by antipsychotic drugs. However, people with schizophrenia find their difficulties with learning, remembering, making decisions and processing information even more problematic than hallucinations. These symptoms have proved hard to treat, making it difficult for people with the condition to hold down a job or deal with social situations.
Now there is hope. At the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a team led by Sophia Vinogradov has put 55 volunteers with schizophrenia through "brain fitness" training, using software made by the firm Posit Science, also in San Francisco.
The brain fitness software starts by …
keep the mind active, and you won’t have these issues. I’ve found that leaning new words and languages is the best way to keep the brain supple. Takes effort, but the payoff is well worth it.
ggw_bach
19 April 2009 at 12:42 pm
I seriously doubt that doing mental exercises will prevent schizophrenia.
LeisureGuy
19 April 2009 at 12:44 pm