As many people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can't remember where we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance's name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain fades, we euphemistically refer to these occurrences as "senior moments." 　　While seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a damaging impact on our professional, social, and personal wellbeing. 　　It happens to most of us, but is it inevitable? 　　Neuroscientists are increasingly showing that there's actually a lot that can be done. It turns that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions. Thinking is essentially a process of making neural connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to excel in making the neural connections that drive intelligence is inherited. However, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort. 　　Now, a new San Francisco Web-based company has taken it a step further and developed the first "brain training program" designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental sharpness. Called Lumosity, it was designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford University. 　　Lumosity, is far more than an online place to exercise your mental skills. That's because they have integrated these exercises into a Web-based program that allows you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program keeps track of your progress and provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement. Most importantly, it constantly modifies and enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developiing--much like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use. 　　1where 2fades 3 while4 damaging5wellbeing 6 turns7 wordkouts8 functions9 process10excel 11 However12according to 13 further14sharpness 15allows 16track 17 on18 constantly19build 20effective 　　一近中年，很多人会注意到他们的记忆力和思维清晰度不再像从前那样了。我们会突然不能记得刚才把钥匙放在哪里了、不记得某个亲戚的姓名了、或者不记得曾经痴迷的那个老乐队的名字了。大脑退化造成诸多事宜的发生，我们委婉地称之为“瞬间性老年痴呆”。 　　虽然表面上看起来没什么，但是这种精神能量的缺失会给我们的职业、社会还有个人幸福带来有害的影响。 　　大部分人都会遇到，可是，它难道是无法避免的吗? 　　越来越多的精神学家们都表示，大脑其实跟肌肉一样需要练习运动，正确的智力运动能极大地提高我们最基本的认知功能。思考是大脑神经连接必要的过程。某种程度上而言，驱动智力发展的神经连接能力是遗传的。可是，这些连接也是通过不断的努力和练习而形成的。科学家们相信，智力可以拓展，也能通过心力而高低变动。 　　圣弗兰西斯科一家名叫lumosity的网络公司先行一步和来自斯坦福大学的精神学家和认知心理学家一起开发出一个名叫“大脑训练”的项目，旨在帮助人们提高并重获精神动力。 　　Lumosity远不只是一个在线通过练习提高智力的地方。因为他们将他们的这些练习集成于网络基础的项目中，能够很系统地提高你的记忆力和注意力。这个项目会记录到你的进步，然后会对你的表现和提高提供详细的反馈给你。最重要的是，它会经常性的根据你正研究的强项修正并加强你所玩的游戏，它更像是一次有效的日常练习，会要求你增加抵抗力并改变肌肉的使用。