What are your thoughts on brain games, puzzles, etc? I understand that the brain can be compared to a muscle (in a sense) and when you exercise it, it grows stronger. I recently downloaded lots of (mostly free) brain game apps and puzzles, as well as Donalee Markus' DSM exercises. I know that the studies are not pointing out that these games make changes in the brain, but I'd like to think that if something like juggling can make changes, why can't something like Sudoku or chess?

The studies show that these games and exercises improve your skills in the areas specific to the exercises. They do not provide a global brain improvement. But, stimulating good brain blood flow has its own benefit so these games are not a waste of time.

Maintaining or improving mental math skills has benefits as do the observational skills needed in many games.

Right now, my short term memory is not good and on the decline--I think due to the schizoaffective disorder. I just realized this today. Something has felt much different the past six months or so, and I just realized why. The interesting thing to me is that I've been living life in a way that I didn't even notice until now.

So then is it possible to improve my short-term memory skills by playing games that test my short-term memory?

Memory struggles can be due to sleep issues. If each day's memories are not reorganized and stored in long term memory, short term memory can remain cluttered. You will do more by working on healthy sleep and such.

Much of short term memory can also be due to lack of focus, maybe due to distractions or ambient stimuli.

Brain training can help you learn to focus and even how to best remove or reduce ambient stimuli. Those are valuable skills to learn.

I do definitely notice the extra ambient stimuli can cause me to have a lack of focus. I'm wondering if practicing with the stimuli in the background is beneficial at all. I often will put in earplugs when trying to be really focused on something such as reading, doing the brain games and puzzles, or writing.

As far as sleep goes, I get 9-11 hours of quality sleep each night. I'm very fortunate. However, I wonder sometimes if that is too much sleep and if I should push myself some more by waking up earlier. I usually wake up on my own without an alarm. I definitely feel better on these days.

Another thing I've noticed is that I no longer remember my dreams. I used to have very vivid dreams every morning that I would remember. I just searched up the medicine I'm taking (Abilify), and it is common to have short-term memory loss. Now that I think about it, the decline in memory and muscle endurance, and increase in apathy all happened around the time I upped my dose.

Everything is really a balance and has lots of trade-offs.

I can see how Abilify could cause some changes. I was thinking the same thing.

I've been struggling a lot with my short term memory too so I also have been doing a lot of brain games. I downloaded a couple of DLM apps which is what was recommended by my vision therapist. My hope is that with time and brain exercises, my memory will improve. I notice that when I am fatigued, my short term memory definitely struggles.

Cat,
I started using the free app Neuro Nation and recently purchased an expanded version. I find it helpful.

One needs to keep in mind that brain training develops and improves skills. The research cannot show that it causes healing.

So, if you find improvements from brain training, you should expect to need to continue that brain training to maintain that improvement. There have been a number of treatments found for PCS and related symptoms but they all have been found to only help during treatment and shortly thereafter.

I compare it to developing mental math skills. I can do very well when I am practiced. But, if I am not mental math active, my skills deteriorate. I can regain those skills with continued practice.

Some of us who once were high performers without needing continued practice before PCS will need to do that practice to achieve the high levels of performance after PCS. I have never been able to restore my short term memory after 15 years and hundreds of hours of mental stimulation. I have learned skills that enable me to do more with less memory.