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Dementia Risk Cut by Computer Brain Game
9 Feb
Summary
- Two hours weekly of computer brain training reduced dementia risk.
- Speed training, not memory or reasoning, showed significant results.
- Benefits observed 20 years after initial training participation.
A groundbreaking study has revealed that engaging in a computer-based visual speed and attention training for approximately two hours per week can dramatically reduce the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's, by 25% over a 20-year period. The ACTIVE study, which began in the late 1990s, enrolled 2,800 healthy adults aged 65 and older across six states.
Participants randomly assigned to the speed training group, especially those who received booster sessions, showed a significant reduction in dementia risk compared to a control group. Researchers theorize that this type of training, unlike memory or reasoning exercises, promotes procedural learning, a form of rewiring the brain that creates durable skills.
While the original study focused on participants aged 65 and older, the technology has since been updated. Experts note that while this brain training shows promise, other lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and managing other health risks also play crucial roles in dementia prevention.
