Large-scale study finds that brain training is associated with a 25% lower risk of dementia decades later

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New study shows cognitive speed training in older adults reduces dementia risk by 25% up to 20 years, offering hope for long-term prevention

A large, long-term study found that brain training focused on processing speed was associated with a significant reduction in dementia diagnoses decades later, with participants in the cognitive speed training group about 25% less likely to develop dementia than those who received no training.

of findings available in magazines Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: translational research and clinical interventions.

Is brain training beneficial for long-term cognitive health?

In the late 1990s, about 3,000 older adults began brain training as part of a study to assess its effects on thinking and memory. Now, 20 years later, this study reveals that participants continue to benefit from brain training.

In the latest follow-up of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vibrant Older Adults (ACTIVE) study, researchers found that participants who received cognitive speed training and booster sessions after one and three years were 25% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over the next 20 years.

Researchers say this is one of the first results from a large randomized controlled trial to demonstrate that a full range of interventions, including cognitive training, brain games, physical exercise, diet and drugs, can reduce the incidence of infectious diseases. alzheimer’s disease and associated dementia.

Study Finds Cognitive Speed ​​Training Is Most Beneficial

Follow-up studies from previous studies had shown that participants maintained their improvements five and 10 years after training, but it was surprising to the participants that the effects persisted for such a long time. Dr. Michael MarciskeOne of six principal investigators.

“The participants who gained the most benefit received up to 18 training sessions over three years. It seemed incredible that we were still seeing benefits 20 years later,” Marsiske said. “Our initial findings demonstrate the benefits of multiple training groups up to 10 years post-training, with participants reporting fewer impairments in daily life and fewer motor vehicle crashes. Adding these 20-year findings strongly suggest that participating in cognitive training is not harmful and can have significant benefits.”

The researchers believe that cognitive speed training had the most lasting effects because the training was adaptive and personalized.

In the ACTIVE study, approximately 2,800 adults were randomly divided into groups and given 10 training sessions for memory, reasoning, or processing speed. Training was conducted over approximately 6 weeks in 60- to 75-minute sessions. Some participants were randomly selected to receive booster training 11 and 35 months after the initial training. The control group received no training.

Researchers found that after five years, participants in all training groups retained profits. Ten years later, researchers found that participants who received training in reasoning and processing speed maintained their cognitive gains.
In the latest follow-up study, 20 years later, most of the participants were in their 90s, and researchers examined their medical records to determine: Rate of dementia. Participants in the speed training group had a quarterly reduced risk of dementia compared to participants in the control group.

“At the time of enrollment, the participants ranged in age from 65 to 94,” he says. “We did not find a significant decrease in training effects with age, suggesting that training can begin at any time.”

“We believe this study encourages us and the field to continue incorporating cognitive training into multicomponent intervention programs for older adults,” Marsiske said.

Health
By Satish Kumar

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