Boosted mind: games to exercise cognitive skills and aid in the treatment of degenerative diseases.

Mente Turbinada is a Brazilian cognitive training platform launched in late 2015 that combines neuroscience and technology, and is also available as an app. The goal is to offer exercises through games that stimulate skills such as memory, attention, reasoning, perception and language.

The project was conceived by the geriatrician at Hospital das Clínicas and professor of General Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo ( USP), Brazil, Dr. Paulo Camiz , in partnership with a multidisciplinary team, composed of doctors, neuroscientists, psychologists, programmers and designers.

The motivation arose from clinical observation of patients who reported difficulties in memorizing everyday situations. Dr. Camiz thought about creating a brain training program to generate a connection between fun and development.

According to Dr. Camiz , “Every time a user plays, they are evaluated. Based on their performance, we know which functions they need to work on better.”

In addition, Mente Turbinada also offers a monitoring report that presents the Brain Development Index , with the evolution of each player.

According to Dr. Camiz, the brain is a muscle that can and should be worked like we do with other parts of our body. The idea that the brain is a muscle was a metaphor used by Dr. Camiz to facilitate the understanding that, just like muscles, the brain can be trained and improved with exercises .

According to studies carried out by the team, games can be auxiliary tools in the treatment of degenerative diseases¹ , such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

In addition to the games, the Mente Turbinada website has a Blog , which offers articles and information about discoveries in neuroscience.

The free version of Mente Turbinada offers three basic games with limited training programming. For the full version (Premium) there are monthly and annual subscription options.

After providing some data for registration, the user will decide which areas of cognitive development he/she wants to improve. Then, exercises are proposed with a frequency also chosen by the user. The tool allows the user's progress to be monitored, as well as identifying other areas that need activities.

Since its launch, Mente Turbinada has been used by a variety of audiences seeking to improve or maintain their cognitive functions, including students, professionals and the elderly.

By Luiz Cincurá.

Notice:

¹ A degenerative disease is a disease that consists of altering the functioning of a cell , tissue or organ, excluding in this case alterations due to inflammation, infections and tumors. Degenerative diseases are so called because they cause the degeneration of the entire organism, involving blood vessels, tissues, bones, vision, internal organs and the brain. Typically, degenerative diseases are acquired through dietary errors (or excessive use of animal fats), a sedentary lifestyle or a genetic error. Degenerative diseases include diabetes , arteriosclerosis , hypertension , heart and spinal diseases , as well as cancer , Alzheimer's disease , rheumatism , multiple sclerosis , deforming arthritis , osteoarthritis , glaucoma , spine, head and limbs. This is a behavior induced by habits resulting from the comforts of modern life .

Sources:

IDG Now! App created by Brazilians promises to exercise memory and concentration. 2015. Hyperlink: < http://idgnow.com.br/internet/2015/11/27/app-criado-por-brasileiros-promete-exercitar-memoria-e-concentracao/> Not available.

IN PRACTICE. Application proposes training to exercise the brain . Available at: < https://napratica.org.br > Accessed on 09.May.2025 .

WIKIPEDIA. Degenerative disease . Available at < https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doen%C3%A7a_degenerativa > Accessed on 09.May.2025 .