A recent study has revealed that a simple brain exercise can lower the risk of developing dementia by 25%. Conducted through a randomized controlled trial, the research involved over 2,800 participants aged 65 and older, who underwent various types of brain training exercises.
Details of the Study
The trial commenced in the late 1990s and categorized participants into three groups. Each group focused on one of the following types of training:
- Speed training
- Memory training
- Reasoning training
Additionally, some participants served as a control group. All participants completed an hour-long training session twice weekly for five weeks, followed by four booster sessions over three years, amounting to less than 24 hours of training in total.
Key Findings
After 20 years, the results indicated a significant finding. Those who engaged in speed training had a 25% reduced risk of developing dementia, as verified through Medicare records. This outcome was consistently described as “disproportionately beneficial” by study co-author Marilyn Albert from Johns Hopkins University.
Caution from Experts
However, outside researchers urged caution in interpreting these results. Rachel Richardson from the Cochrane Collaboration highlighted potential limitations, stating that while the results were statistically significant, the actual reduction could range from 5% to 41%. Additionally, the study did not include participants with certain health conditions, which may limit its representativeness.
Understanding the Speed Training Exercise
The speed training involved engaging with visual stimuli on a computer screen, such as cars and road signs. Researchers, including Albert, expressed uncertainty about why this particular method demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to others.
Implications of the Findings
The potential benefits of this exercise are significant. Albert emphasized that reducing dementia cases by 25% within the U.S. could result in savings of approximately $100 billion in healthcare costs. Currently, dementia affects around 57 million people worldwide, making it a leading cause of death, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Conclusion
The study has important implications for future research. Although the findings are promising, experts agree that further investigation is necessary to understand the effectiveness of cognitive training in dementia prevention.
The full study is published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Research.
