You’ve probably heard of the benefits of “brain training” as we age. Whether it’s simple puzzles like crossword or sudoku, or a more involved intellectual hobby, lots of people want to do whatever we can.
But brain training isn’t just a folk theory, and a group of researchers from Aix-Marseille University in France wanted to prove that we can train our brains to ward off cognitive decline in old age.
They gathered 22 patients aged 65-90 with memory complaints, all of whom met the diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment.
Before the study began, researchers gave tests to evaluate their verbal and visual memory.
Next, they were randomly sorted into two groups. The first group performed a set of computerized training exercises, while the second performed a set of simple cognitive activities to serve as a control.
The computerized exercises were comprised of three parts: a visual recognition task, which involved memorizing pictures and identifying them later, an attentional training task, which required quickly identifying specific pictures in different areas of a computer screen, and a focused attention task, where patients had to quickly distinguish between multiple pictures being presented at the same time.
Meanwhile, researchers gave the control group a set of exercises where they were asked to find names of countries, organize lists of similar items, and read a passage and then answer some questions.
Both groups participated in either the training or the cognitive exercises for 24 sessions of approximately an hour each.
Once it was over, researchers retested their memory . . .
. . . and the results were dramatic.
The patients who took the computerized training scored significantly better than the control group in both visual and spatial memory. The computerized training group also improved significantly from their pre-training memory measures.
What makes this study interesting to me is that these results didn’t require a massive lifestyle change. Although 24 hour-long sessions might seem like a lot, consider the time many of us spend each week watching television or on the internet. It probably wouldn’t be difficult to turn some of that into dedicated brain training time.
Of course, this study faces a couple of important limitations.
First, the sample size is very small, so we can’t be too certain about the accuracy of the findings. Second, because this study was conducted on people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, we don’t know much about whether computerized training would be effective for the general population.
I’d like to see a larger study, even if it’s still conducted on patients with pre-existing complaints. I’d also like to see a study that looks at the effect of computerized training on aging people outside of a patient population. We need further research in this area in order to develop simple and effective brain training routines that can be done easily at home.
Of course, practical brain training solutions are already out there – and you can learn about them in the Brain Science webinar series.
And you can read about this study in Volume 50 of Neuropsychologia.
Do you have a personal routine to keep your brain in shape? Have you ever recommended a brain training routine to one of your clients? Take a moment to share your thoughts below.
I must be dumb because I downloaded the Recall app, and use BrainHQ daily, and I’m totally embarrassed by my results. I was severely neglected and abused in my formative years so that may be a reason. I’m alone so all I have is time to improve. I’m not going to give up. It’s just frustrating is all
wonderful post, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t realize this.
You must proceed your writing. I’m confident, you have a
great readers’ base already!
I know of the Lumosity online brain training and have used it for a couple of years, but in a very spotty way. It is discouraging to keep getting the same results on certain *games*. There are two that are particularly discouraging for me….indicating particular brain deficits.
One is simple math which speeds up as you go and the other is picking out the visuals of squares on a grid… I never get past recalling the placement of 7 squares correctly. When I repeat the exercise, it gets worse because something in me feels stupid and hopeless.
There is another of their games of tracking the movement of Koi fish which is irritatingly slowed down without a separate mouse attachment.
Their word games do not test for comprehension of meaning, but for recall of words with similar roots and typing speed (which is a bottleneck if you hunt and peck).
I had post-concussion syndrome since 2010 and began to train on ATTENGO in September 2012(AttenGo training programs are based on proprietary technology developed at the Advanced Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) clinic in Toronto, Canada, and have been successfully used by individuals of all backgrounds and age groups. Your talk encouraged me to continu my training, eventhought it is more expensive that Luminosity or other brain gyms that has nothing to little evidences to them.
But initially was supposed to train with COGMED, which has better evidences-based studies to back it up, with proof of keeping improvements, even after stopping the training up to 6 months to 3 years…But I don’t recall the references: See Peer-reviewed research shows Cogmed is an effective intervention- They have on their web site a table that include Cogmed training studies that have been published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, including several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and evaluations by research with no affiliation to Cogmed. They also provide a free webinar about Cogmed research hosted by clinical psychologists Dr. Charles Shinaver and Dr. Peter Entiwistle.
The only problem is to be followed by a trained professional in my area and this is private, so expensive (1300$ for 5 professional reviewed training sessions, plus a year computer-based follow-up sessions).
Wait–There are too many parameters in the study. The article here makes it appear that the study concludes that computer-based brain-training tasks produce better results. However, the study doesn’t prove this at all because the two groups were given different tasks to do. The difference in tasks could have affected the results, rather than the difference in delivery systems. (Based on my reading, I’d be willing to bet that the focused attention and memory training were key, but it would require a well-designed study to prove.)
Inspiring!
I just pulled “Posit Science Brain Training Software” off the shelf and dusted it off to begin again. Many thanks to your guest, Dr Doidge, for “The Brain That Changes Itself,” [pp. 88-90].
Here is a link to a small study done by the University of Edinburgh that suggests physical exercise may be very important in protecting the brain from age related change.
Hey, that post leaves me feeling fohliso. Kudos to you!
To increase my brain, I do complex physical and mental exercises. While doing the physical, I alternate different mental exercises so that it takes careful thought. When it becomes easy, the I change it.
Marifran —
I am curious and interested to know what the physical and mental are that you do. I am noticing a slowness in myself, perhaps this is what is meant by cognitive decline?
I have heard about Brain Gym but don’t know too much about it. Any info you would like to share would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Ishtar
Hi my family mebmer! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
I am 63 and have been using Lumosity for about for about three months. My scores on the Brain Performance Index has improved dramatically. I am not sure if that is just from practicing the games or real cognitive and memory improvement. I have noticed some short term memory improvement. Does any one know how the effectiveness of Lumosity?
I am 73 years of age, and have been doing MindSparke training for the past 4 years. I do not work according to the suggested routine of the compilers, but use the Practice Mode in order that I can progress at my own rate. I have introduced many people of my own age to this program – they have difficulty performing at the n-2 level, whilst I am operating at the n-5 level.
I try to do setgame.com on a daily basis as well as the word game on that site.
Do Sudoko 3x per week. Play bridge. Do research on my topics of interest
I run groups for 10 participants at a time when I teach them about neuroplasticity and brain health, whilst introducing them to practical and theoretical skills to improve their cognitive reserve!
Hi,
I am interested in finding out resources that are available on the computer and routines that help teach/retrain the brain. My friend had a brain injury (bleed) and is able to function mostly but is having trouble with tasking. They live in rural Sask. and don’t have easy access to on-going therapy.
Your recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
I would also like to know if these effects LASTED, and if so, for how long, after the exercise was completed. It certainly seems possible that an “exercise effect” might quickly fade. This would have important implications for treatment planning.
“And you can read about this study in Volume 50 of Neuropsychologia” – I would appreciate
information as to the article number. Many thanks, jude mccormick
I too would like a more specific reference. Seems “Volume 50” covers the entirety of 2012. An issue number, title of the article, names of the “researchers from Aix-Marseille University in France”, or a link to the original material would be nice.
never mind, found it:
Volume 50, Issue 8, July 2012, Pages 1871–1881
C. Herreraa, b, C. Chambona, B.F. Michelb, V. Pabana, B. Alescio-Lautier
“Positive effects of computer-based cognitive training in adults with mild cognitive impairment”