Neurofeedback for Seniors
Cognitive health is an important part of an individual’s health and well-being. It plays an integral role in a person’s social, cultural, physiological, and environmental background. However, why does it seem that taking steps to improve one’s cognitive health get put on the back burner?
As we age, there is a higher risk of having mental health problems and consequently having higher rates of disability and mortality. The brain is very much like a computer, as we age, it gets filled with a variety of information and memories. As the years go by, without proper care, once can see the effects and one (or family members) can begin to see issues emerge. Not remembering names, places, events as clearly as one used too. Information begins to feel “fuzzy”.
“The main issues concerning aging and mental health are prevention, early diagnosis, recognition of major diseases, treatment and quality of life interventions”(1).
“With the increase in average life expectancy, chronic conditions inherent to aging, such as dementia’s (in particular Alzheimer’s Disease), are inevitably growing along with related behavioral and psychological disorders, which highlights the need for specific interventions in elderly mental health problems”(1).
Beside dementia and other mild cognitive impairment, other issues related to aging like muscle weakness, frailty, physical ailments, and the risk for mental health problems or not meeting the needs of seniors will require substantially more attention from doctors, mental health providers, caregivers and aging professionals.
There is truth that mental health problems can be considered an inevitable part of aging; however, mental health issues, particularly those affecting old age are frequently underestimated. This means that a large number of seniors could be treated and benefit from interventions to enhance their well-being as preventative maintenance. Suggesting that by working on their cognitive health to maintain well-being now would be more cost-effective financially and to their overall health compared to not addressing any small concerns and letting potential diseases, conditions or other issues arise and deteriorate their cognitive health to the point of a large financial cost in medical bills, stress on family and potentially shortening the life span of your loved one.
What can I do?
There are many options in senior health care. As we discussed, preventative maintenance is the key. Maintain regular medical visits with your primary doctor and check in with a mental health professional. Many seniors find that they may experience new concerns or stress as they age. Feeling anxious, depressed, fear for the future is overwhelming and they may not discuss their concerns with family until it becomes a chronic daily concern.
We have found that in conjunction with medical and mental health screening, many adults and seniors find success in neurofeedback brain training.
Neurofeedback is non-invasive, uses no medication, and helps to retrain area’s of the brain to self-regulate and the brainwave connections re-learn how to function more optimally. Meaning, those area’s that may be responsible for symptoms of memory loss, fogginess, anxiousness, stress, or depression can be alleviated by regular training. Just like a muscle the brain needs exercise and neurofeedback can help lessen negative symptoms or help to limit the progression of a degenerative disease.
Benefits:
Neurofeedback is an alternative treatment to medication. It is long lasting, painless, non-invasive, and some patients are able to reduce medication needs once their brainwaves are retrained and are now functioning optimally.
Neurofeedback aims to retrain brainwaves by positive reinforcement by teaching the brain to self-regulate dysregulated areas through watching a video, listening to ambient music, or video games while connected to a sophisticated neurofeedback training program.
Risks:
There are minimal risks. One may feel tired after a session. One could experience headaches immediately following a session. Our clinicians are highly trained to monitor abnormal brain pattern rhythms and if fatigue or headaches begin to emerge, we stop the session immediately and resume at a shortened training time for the next session to give the brain a break.
*We will note that neurofeedback is limited to a medically determined healthy brain. We conduct an evaluation to deem appropriateness for each case. If one has a degenerate disease and has experienced brain matter deterioration as one would see in cases of Alzhiemers for example. Neurofeedback does not “cure” or “restore” area’s of the brain that may be damaged due to these type of degenerative diseases or disorders. Some have found relief from symptoms and can aid in slowing the progression depending on the case but it can not restore physical damage to the brain.
Interested to Learn More?
All it takes is 3 Easy Steps to regain control of your Cognitive Health
Research:
Dietary fiber reduces brain inflammation during aging
Neurofeedback and Physical Balance in Parkinson’s Patients
Z-Score LORETA Neurofeedback as a Potential Therapy in Cognitive Dysfunction and Dementia
Please return often as we continually update our research articles with new advancing information.