Brain Training Game Linked to 25% Lower Dementia Risk Over 20 Years

A comprehensive long-term study has revealed that engaging in a specific brain training video game may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, for up to two decades. The research, published on March 15, 2024, in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, presents compelling evidence that cognitive training can lead to lasting changes in brain function.

The study is a follow-up to the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial, which originally enrolled nearly 3,000 participants aged 65 and older. The participants, who did not have significant prior cognitive impairment, were divided into various training programs over a three-year period. Those who participated in speed training, which involved up to 23 hours of cognitive exercises, demonstrated a 25% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia over a subsequent 20-year follow-up.

Marilyn Albert, director of the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, expressed surprise at the findings, stating, “It’s very surprising. It’s not at all what I would have expected.” The study’s results reinforce earlier research indicating that participants who underwent cognitive training showed a reduced risk of dementia after a ten-year period.

Details of the Study and Training Methods

The ACTIVE trial was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and included diverse participants from six geographical regions in the United States, with approximately 25% being minorities and a majority being women. Women are particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, developing dementia at nearly twice the rate of men.

Participants were assigned to one of three cognitive training programs: speed training, memory training, or reasoning training, with a control group receiving no cognitive training. The speed training aimed to enhance the brain’s ability to process visual information quickly and accurately. According to Dr. Sanjula Singh, a physician-scientist at Harvard Medical School, this training required participants to quickly identify objects on a screen and make decisions, simulating the cognitive demands of driving.

In contrast, memory training focused on strategies for recalling lists and stories, while reasoning training involved solving patterned problems. The study found that only speed training participants experienced a significant protective effect against dementia.

Researchers tracked participants’ medical records through Medicare over the 20 years, identifying those diagnosed with various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Those who engaged in speed training and received additional booster sessions exhibited a marked reduction in dementia risk compared to the control group.

Implications and Recommendations

The study’s authors, including Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist, emphasized the potential long-term benefits of even modest cognitive training efforts. “It builds on the concept that relatively small amounts of effort can really pay dividends for decades to come,” he noted. Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, director of cognitive neurology at NYU Langone Health, described the findings as “astonishing,” highlighting this as the strongest evidence to date supporting cognitive training’s role in lowering dementia risk.

While the speed training method was designed by psychologists Karlene Ball and Daniel Roenker and has since been made available through the online program “double decision” via BrainHQ, experts suggest that individuals over 65 may particularly benefit from this training. Albert mentioned that younger individuals, particularly those in their 40s and 50s, might also experience protective effects, although further research is needed.

Despite the promising results, experts caution that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are complex conditions with no single solution. “Anyone with a brain is at risk of Alzheimer’s, and everyone should be paying attention to their brain health,” Isaacson advised.

The study aligns with findings from a 2024 report by the Lancet Commission, which suggests that addressing certain risk factors could delay or reduce nearly half of all dementia cases. Recommended measures include regular hearing screenings, managing metabolic risk factors, correcting vision impairments, and engaging in physical exercise, which enhances blood flow and nourishes the brain.

This research underscores the importance of maintaining cognitive health through proactive measures and highlights the potential of cognitive training to create lasting benefits in reducing the risk of dementia.