After having kids, enduring years of sleep deprivation, and continuing to juggle and remember hundreds of tasks per week, it's no wonder your brain doesn't seem to function as well as it once did.

Just as our bodies need exercise to maintain health, Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima believes we need to "workout" our brains regularly also to keep it in shape and in optimal form. So, he worked with Nintendo to create Brain Age and Brain Age 2 - a series of quick, fun exercises that you can play on Nintendo's DS handheld.

First, you start with a Brain Age Check to gauge the your current level. My 34-year old noggin weighed in at 47-years old to start.  Dr. Kawashima advises that optimal Brain Age is 20, and now after a few months of training a couple times a week, I've whittled myself down to Brain Age 27.

So, I may never have my 20-year old body back no matter how hard I try, but it's good to know that my brain can stay young with just a bit of work.

Nintendo DS Lite with Brain Age 2 - $212.99 at Amazon.com

Printed from the Modern Mom website: www.modernmom.com - on November 20, 2008
http://modernmom.com/189/article/

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