[ FACULTY PROFILE ]
MENTAL exercise MARGIE ECKROTH-BUCHER’S research focuses on ways
to keep the brain functioning at its best so Baby Boomers can enjoy their retirement years in their own homes. proper physical fitness are well known: a combination of eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly helps keep the body vibrant as we age. But what can be done to keep the brain fit? That’s the question Margie Eckroth-Bucher, associate professor of nursing, is trying to answer through research that focuses on the effects of cognitive stimulation on brain health. “As a result of brain imaging and genetic technologies, scientists can observe physical indicators of brain aging in people as young as 25,” she explains. “However, cognitive loss does not have to be an inevitable consequence of aging.” Eckroth-Bucher says the sooner an individual Margie Eckroth-Bucher begins to focus on cognition preservation, the better the outcome. A good place to start is by minimizing high stress levels that can wear away at brain fitness and overall memory performance. Diet also plays a part. “Convincing scientific evidence exists that long-term healthy diets may prevent future brain aging and dementia,” she notes. “It is especially important to limit
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intake of Omega-6 fatty acids, which may contribute to brain inflammation and also affect insulin levels. “Additionally, a daily regimen of mental aerobics has been shown to increase and strengthen cognitive functions. It is important to remain intellectually active, increase the complexity of activities over time and challenge oneself to learn new things.” Eckroth-Bucher demonstrated the importance of mental aerobics in two research studies conducted with James Siberski of Misericordia University. Both used a combination of paper-and-pencil exercises and computer software to determine the effectiveness of a cognitive remediation program on an aging population. Participating in the study were individuals age 55 and older with three levels of cognitive abilities: no impairment, mild impairment and severe impairment. “The first was a smaller pilot study,” EckrothBucher says. “I wanted to see if there would be any impact by using computer stimulation and combining that with other, more traditional kinds of cognitive stimulation activities.” The computer session used two software programs that enabled
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