Decades-Long Study Suggests Brain-Training Could Lower Dementia Risk

According to a long-term study, brain-training exercises that promote quick thinking might help reduce the risk of dementia. In contrast, activities focusing on memorization or reasoning don’t seem to have the same effect. Experts believe this could lead to the development of video games aimed at supporting cognitive health as people age.

As we get older, the chances of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia increase significantly. Currently, many people in their 80s and 90s are affected. While there are no cures available, researchers are exploring various interventions to potentially minimize this risk. Some medications might slow cognitive decline in early-stage dementia, but they aren’t a complete solution.

Short Training, Long-Term Benefits

This study, which commenced in the late 1990s, involved 2,021 participants aged 65 and older. They were divided into four groups. One group engaged in speed-training exercises that required multitasking, while the other three groups participated in memory exercises using mnemonics, reasoning exercises for problem-solving, or did no cognitive activities at all for comparison.

Each of the training groups underwent up to ten sessions lasting 60 to 75 minutes over a five-to-six-week period, with some returning for additional “booster” sessions one to three years later. The results, published recently, revealed that only those who participated in speed-training showed a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially among those who took booster sessions.

“If you were in the speed training group and had the booster sessions, your risk of being diagnosed with dementia was 25% lower by the end of the trial,” explained one study co-author. Conversely, no protective benefits were noted for those in the memory or reasoning groups.

This raises the possibility of using speed-training cognitive exercises, including specific brain-training video games or applications, as a preventative measure against dementia. However, there’s skepticism about whether many existing games can replicate the training’s benefits as they often exaggerate their effectiveness.

One co-author expressed caution regarding the enjoyment factor in speed-training, emphasizing that the most beneficial exercises were adaptive and designed to challenge the participants progressively, unlike most video games currently available.

The study’s strength lies in its diverse participant pool, including a significant number from minority groups, who are at a higher risk for dementia. This broad representation may enhance the credibility and applicability of the results.

Going forward, researchers plan to investigate if these exercises trigger particular brain changes that could delay neurodegeneration. They are considering brain imaging to explore how cognitive training affects brain structure. There are also methods to study similar training on lab animals to further understand the underlying mechanisms.

In the meantime, it’s worth noting that other lifestyle factors—such as regular physical activity and maintaining healthy blood pressure—are also linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Perhaps, one day, simple brain-training exercises will be recognized as another effective strategy for preventing dementia, especially since, in this study, just a few weeks of training seemed to confer protection for up to two decades.