A major scientific study has found that brain training and dementia prevention are closely linked, with a simple mental exercise significantly lowering the risk of developing dementia in older adults.
The research is based on a randomized controlled trial, considered the most reliable method in medical science, with follow-up data spanning two decades.
The findings indicate that only one specific type of brain training proved effective, while others showed no measurable benefit.
Evidence From a Long-Term Randomized Trial
Researchers announced that the randomized, controlled study demonstrated a 25% reduction in dementia risk among participants who underwent targeted brain training.
The results were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Research.
Researchers’ Assessment
Marilyn Albert of Johns Hopkins University, who took part in the study, told Agence France-Presse that this is the first highly credible research to offer practical guidance on how dementia risk can be reduced.
She emphasized that the results do not apply to all brain-training games, but only to the specific method tested.
The “ACTIVE” Study Explained
The study, known as the ACTIVE trial, began in the late 1990s and included more than 2,800 participants aged 65 and older.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three types of cognitive training:
Processing speed training
Memory training
Reasoning and logical thinking training
Training Duration and Structure
Participants completed two one-hour training sessions per week over five weeks.
They later received four booster sessions after one year and another four after three years, bringing the total training time to just 24 hours.
Processing Speed Training Shows Clear Benefit
Follow-up assessments after five, ten, and most recently twenty years showed that processing speed training was “significantly beneficial,” according to Albert.
Data from the US government healthcare program Medicare indicated that dementia risk was reduced by 25% among those who received processing speed training along with booster sessions.
The other two types of training showed no statistically significant effect.
What the Training Involved
Processing speed training required participants to quickly identify and click on images, such as cars and road signs, appearing in different areas of a computer screen, aiming to improve visual attention and reaction speed.
Dementia as a Global Health Challenge
According to the World Health Organization, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and affects around 57 million people globally, underscoring the importance of proven preventive measures.
Conclusion:
The study suggests that brain training and dementia prevention can be effectively linked through targeted processing speed exercises, while also highlighting that not all cognitive training programs provide the same benefits.
