Mental activity resources for patients

The Mind your Brain section of this website has information for the general public explaining why we believe mental activity is important and provides ideas and resources for brain exercise.

Your local council should be able to advise your patients/clients about providers of locally available courses, activities, groups, volunteer opportunities, etc.

The internet is a great source of brain games. For example:

• The Lipton BrainTrain website has puzzles and games to challenge memory, maths skills and reaction time.  Patients/clients can play just for fun or sign up to play against others.
• The SBS ADbc, based on the TV program, tests history knowledge.

Brain games and puzzles can also be found in daily newspapers and in various puzzle books available at newsagents and bookstores.

Alzheimer’s Australia has an Update Sheet Keep Your Brain Active: Mental Exercise and Dementia that provides information about the role of mental activity in reducing the risk of developing dementia and in improving the quality of life of people with dementia.

U3A - the University of the Third Age - is an international movement that encourages retired people to take part in lifelong learning.  They offer many educational, creative and leisure activities to their members to encourage positive ageing.  The University of the Third Age website provides up-to-date contacts for all Australian and New Zealand U3As.  U3A Online also offers short online courses and many other resources for older people, especially those who are geographically, physically or socially isolated.

The Sharp Brains website has independent information about the many ‘brain training’ products commercially available.  The University of New South Wales has an information sheet summarising what the research to date says about the effectiveness of these products.

Dr Michael Valenzuela’s book, It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Mind. The Latest Medical Thinking on What You Can Do to Avoid Dementia, published by ABC Books, explains dementia and the major risk factors and provides practical advice for consumers on keeping active.