My name is Barbara Bruce.  I am an educator with a passion for learning how the human brain is capable of maintaining fitness and function as we age.

Everyone wants to know how to keep his/her brain fit.  Evidence of this fact is found in cover articles in professional journals as well as in such popular magazines as Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Scientific American, Health and even Money.  We want to know.

My research is empirical.  I read books, attend training seminars, participate in clinical research and teach this fascinating topic both locally and nationally.

Locally I teach Mental Aerobics as part of the Gerontology Certification Program at Lifespan. I also teach at Oasis, MVP (formally Preferred Care), in many local assisted living complexes, and groups who are interested in maintaining brain fitness. Nationally, I teach brain fitness at Elderhostels and conduct retreats focused on this hot topic.

In the attached articles I address various aspects of maintaining brain fitness and functioning. This topic needs to be of critical interest for all of us. It is never too early or too late to take care of the most important and fascinating organ in the universe – your brain.

People have been fascinated with the functioning of the brain since the time of Aristotle and Plato. However, we have learned more about the functioning of the human brain in the last three decades than in all of human history combined. This is due to many factors including but not limited to: the 1990's being designated as the "decade of the brain", the wonders of technology in the form of EEG, PET and CAT scans, MRIs and fMRIs.

Due to these amazing technological advances we can now actually watch the brain as it functions. I have seen the brain function on a screen at a brain conference. The possibilities of discovering what this amazing organ is capable of are expanding daily. They fall most clearly into the realms of science, medicine, psychology and education, but truly affect all aspects of life.

I teach because, as an educator, I must systematically apply and teach what I learn. I teach because, while there is evidence that both nurture and nature affect who we are, they do not have to determine who we are. Evidence is growing that, because we have the freedom of choice, we can choose behaviors to maintain our brain and body.

Using this awareness of our freedom and power to choose is affirming because it can excite our sense of possibility and potential.

All actions have consequences. This is why I teach brain fitness. I invite you to read the twenty four articles and discover time-tested tools and techniques to maintain the fitness and functioning of your brain in user friendly (non jargon) and timely information.