ABOUT NINTENDO'S BRAIN TRAINING.

There's a growing stream of ads and websites hyping the marvels of computer-based cognitive programs and brain games for anxiously aging baby boomers and their parents. I once got this game for my Nintendo DS and enjoyed it with their version of the Sudoku puzzle.I certainly understand the attraction of promises of faster think­ing, rejuvenated memory and sharper focus — all for just a few hundred bucks or perhaps $12 a month, auto-billed. But here are some of the points made by 70 leading cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists while issueing a consensus statement,They expressed skepticism about brain training and how it's being marketed. The statement was released by the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. Here are some of its key points: 1.The best brain-health advice, based largely on observational findings, is to lead a physically active, intellectually challenging and socially engaged life. In particular, much research shows that physical exercise is a moderately effective way to maintain, and even improve, brain fitness. 2.The companies often boast that their programs are designed by famous scientists and are supported by solid research. But most of the studies they cite are small, short, and funded by the brain-game companies. What's more, because the studies are so short, it's unclear whether any improvements in skills practiced in brain games would persist or carry over to other cognitive tasks and daily living. 3.Many claims are "exaggerated and misleading" and exploit the anxiety of healthy older adults worried about memory loss. There's no convincing evidence that any brain training programs will improve general cognitive abilities or help prevent or treat dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Not surprisingly, the brain-training industry strongly disputes the conclusions of the consensus statement. And another large group of experts (some of them with ties to the industry) has issued a rebuttal in support of cognitive training.While it's certainly premature to rule out the possibility that some sort of cognitive training will boost aging brains, more and better research will be needed to prove it.The good news is that scientists know that the brain remains malleable, even in old age. That is, stimulating activities like learning a new skill or taking classes can strengthen neural connections and produce other positive changes in the brain. If you want to exercise your brain, study Yoruba or Mandarin, take up Ikebana flower arranging, or learn a new game like chess or bridge. You may strengthen those neural connections in your brain, and you’ll almost certainly have fun.