A specific kind of cognitive workout may potentially lower the risk of dementia by approximately 30%.
A groundbreaking study, part of the Advanced Cognitive Training in Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial, has revealed that a specific type of cognitive exercise called speed of processing training can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. The study, which followed over 2,800 healthy older adults for ten years, found that participants who underwent speed of processing training experienced a 29% reduction in the risk of developing dementia compared to those who received no training.
The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, focused on computer-based and structured mental tasks designed to enhance the rapid identification and processing of visual information. These exercises targeted neural pathways in the visual cortex responsible for handling rapid information processing.
While the study's findings should be interpreted with caution due to its reliance on self-reported dementia for identification, the results are supported by extensive scientific literature and prior research. The reduction in dementia risk associated with speed of processing training could have enormous implications for public health, as dementia affects approximately 50 million people worldwide with nearly 10 million new cases each year.
Experts stress that brain health requires a multifaceted approach, and while cognitive training shows promise, it should not be considered a standalone solution. The most effective dementia prevention strategy likely combines multiple protective factors, including physical exercise, heart-healthy diets, social engagement, quality sleep, stress management techniques, and controlling cardiovascular risk factors.
The future of dementia prevention research includes combination interventions, personalized prevention strategies, earlier interventions, novel cognitive training approaches, technological advances, and investigating how these interventions might be combined for maximal benefit. Several companies have developed commercial brain training programs based on speed of processing principles, such as Posit Science's BrainHQ platform and its "Double Decision" program. However, experts caution that not all brain training programs are equal, and they recommend focusing on speed of processing exercises that specifically train visual attention and processing speed, with progressive difficulty, consistent practice, and combination with physical exercise.
In summary, the ACTIVE study has shown that cognitive training exercises, specifically those designed to improve memory, reasoning, and speed of processing, can reduce dementia risk by 29% in older adults. This form of structured mental exercise enhances cognitive reserve and delays cognitive decline, thus lowering dementia incidence. While other interventions like physical activity and multidomain lifestyle changes are beneficial, they do not specifically match the 29% dementia risk reduction linked to the ACTIVE cognitive training intervention. This makes cognitive training the scientifically-backed cognitive exercise associated with a substantial protective effect against dementia in older adults. The dose-response relationship observed in the study suggests that ongoing engagement with these exercises may be more beneficial than a one-time intervention.
The study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, focusing on mental tasks for enhancing rapid visual information processing, has demonstrated that these cognitive exercises, such as speed of processing training, can positively impact mental health by reducing the risk of dementia in older adults. Moreover, this reduction in dementia risk, amounting to 29%, is a significant addition to health-and-wellness strategies, aligning with the concept of a multifaceted approach for effective dementia prevention.
