Cognitive Fitness and the Mature
Workforce: Opportunities and
Challenges
Alvaro Fernandez
UNCG, April 2009
© SharpBrains

Please name the color of the word

In summary
 Old dogs do learn new tricks
 Slower in completely new areas
 Faster in domains of expertise
 Lifestyle factors and training can help
protect that ability to learn
 Not all old dogs are the same: age itself
is not the best predictor of performance
 Cognitive Fitness: the new frontier for
HR departments
© SharpBrains.

Why Now? A Perfect Storm of Factors
© SharpBrains 2008

The number of people over 50 will double in
30 years. And it’s Baby Boomers.

The Aging Mind
Source: Denise Park, Roybal Center Healthy Minds

Debunking 10 Myths
1. Genes determine the fate of our brains.
2. Aging means automatic decline.
3. Medication is the only hope for cognitive enhancement.
4. We will soon have a Magic Pill or General Solution.
5. There is only one “it” in “Use It or Lose it”.
6. All brain activities or exercises are equal.
7. After age X, no new neurons are generated in the human brain.
8. We all have something called “Brain Age”.
9. That “brain age” can be reversed by 10, 20, 30 years.
10. All human brains need the same brain exercise.
© SharpBrains.

What contributes to Cognitive Fitness
Source: The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009

Tools for Augmenting Cognition
Type Research Areas Value Proposition
Invasive Drugs, stem cells, Treat CNS indications
interventions implants, explants, DBS,
nutrition
Non-invasive Software, VR, exercise, Achieve specific
interventions mindfulness, cognitive outcomes (similar to
therapy, TMS, physical fitness
videogames, hypnosis paradigm), potentially
becoming first-line
treatment strategy
Lifestyle Sleep, music, stress, Maintain cognitive
cognitive reserve, wellness, increase
interacting with nature neuroprotection
Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience, Augmenting Cognition April 2009 Issue, Alvaro Fernandez
© SharpBrains.

How is this possible?
- Brain biochemistry
- Brain weight
- Brain function
Graph by Elkhonon Goldberg, The Wisdom Paradox

If you lived in London, and wanted to grow your
hippocampus, which job would you choose?
Source: Maguire, Woollett, & Spiers, 2006
© SharpBrains.

Work = lifelong mental cross-training

The 4 Pillars of Cognitive Fitness
A balanced nutrition
1.
Cardiovascular physical exercise
2.
Stress management
3.
Brain exercise: Novelty, Variety,
4.
Challenge (that doesn’t stress us out)
© SharpBrains.

What is the most important problem you see
(n=2,087, January 2009)
5%
6%
14% 39%
15%
21%
Public Awareness Navigating Claims Research
Healthcare Culture Lack of Assessment Other
Source: SharpBrains, The Brain Fitness Software Market 2009
© SharpBrains.

A call to action…
How is your organization getting ready to
help solve these problems?
Awareness
I.
Navigating Claims
II.
Research
III.
Health Culture
IV.
Assessment
V.
Other
VI.
© SharpBrains.

In summary
 Old dogs do learn new tricks
 Slower in completely new areas
 Faster in domains of expertise
 Lifestyle factors and training can help
protect that ability to learn
 Not all old dogs are the same: age itself
is not the best predictor of performance
 Cognitive Fitness: the new frontier for
HR departments
© SharpBrains.

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