UPMC Health Plan (UPMC) has signed an agreement to offer free brain fitness software from Posit Science to all UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage members. This brain training program is a new part of the UPMC Health Plan wellness services, which focus on both mind and body fitness.
The company said that the brain fitness software, known as the Insight Brain Fitness Program, is a suite of five game-like computer exercises that make brain training challenging and effective. The program engages the brain’s natural plasticity (the brain’s ability to rewire itself) to improve basic brain function.
The company said that the brain fitness exercise can also improve general health outcomes. Recent studies showed that the Posit Science exercises improve functional independence, self-confidence, and health-related quality of life.
Reportedly, new UPMC for Life members who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, can get the brain fitness software for no additional cost. The program, which retails for $395, will be available to members who request it after January 1, 2010. Members who want the program will get a CD-ROM that can be easily loaded onto a home computer, said the company.
Michael Merzenich, chief scientific officer at Posit Science, said: We are excited that UPMC Health Plan chose our brain fitness training as a way to revitalise the aging brain. Research trials have shown that spending consistent time on these exercises helps users think quicker, focus better, and remember more of what’s going on in their everyday lives.