My fellow Huffington Post columnist Alvaro Fernandez writes about the recent news emphasis on brain fitness and "brain training,” which reflects a growing interest in natural, non-drug-based interventions to keep our brains sharp. Fernandez says that this interest is very timely, given the aging population, increasing Alzheimer's rates, and soaring health care costs that place more emphasis than ever on prevention and changing lifestyle.

An increasing number of companies, such as Nintendo with the Brain Age and Brain Training games, are achieving significant commercial success in packaging brain exercise. Who’s buying them?  Adults over 50 who want to protect their memory are among the pioneers, and the 78 million baby boomers are eager to try new approaches. K12 education is on board as well: certain brain fitness software packages have shown they can help kids who have dyslexia and related difficulties.

The products, to some extent, do work.  You can expect quantifiable short-term improvements in your cognitive skills after a number of weeks of systematic brain training.  But as for measurable long-term benefits, such as better overall brain health as we age, or lower incidence of Alzheimer's symptoms, it’s still too early to tell.

Fernandez predicts that we will see the brain training trend enter the work world in a number of ways.  Perhaps companies will offer incentive programs to employees in order to attract and retain mature workers who want access to the best and the latest innovations to keep their minds sharp.  And more and better computer-based tools will be made available to all employees: just as we find a variety of machines in health clubs today, in the future we can expect different brain programs tailored to train specific cognitive skills that are relevant to particular jobs.

In the 21^st century, it appears that fitness is taking on a whole new meaning.  Hopefully these brain training programs will prove more appealing than the elliptical!