The latest information from decades of research suggests that: brain training It can lower your risk of dementia.
The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Older Adults (ACTIVE) study began in the late 1990s with approximately 3,000 people. senior citizenevaluated how brain training affects thinking and memory.
The participants, who ranged in age from 65 to 94 at the start of the study, were randomly divided into groups and underwent 10 training sessions on skills such as memory, reasoning, and processing speed. The 60- to 75-minute sessions were conducted over a 6-week period.
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Another randomly selected group received “booster” training 11 and 35 months after the first session.
In a recent follow-up study, treated participants cognitive speed trainingin addition to follow-up training several years later, reduced the likelihood of receiving a dementia diagnosis over the next 20 years by 25%.
This is one of the first results of the trial to demonstrate that “any intervention, including cognitive training, brain games, physical exercise, diet, and drugs, can reduce the incidence of infectious disease.” alzheimer’s disease and associated dementia,” said the lead researchers from the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions.
The study results were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions.
The “most advantaged” participants received up to 18 training sessions over three years, said researcher Michael Marsiske, Ph.D., a professor and interim co-professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at University Health.
Marsiske told Fox News Digital that he was “completely surprised” by these findings.
“Our initial findings demonstrate the effectiveness of some training arms up to 10 years post-training, with participants reporting fewer impairments in daily living and fewer motor vehicle accidents,” the researchers said. “These 20 years of research strongly suggest that participating in cognitive training does no harm and may have benefits. real profit. ”
Speed training requires participants to process visual information on a computer screen and make “rapid decisions.”
“The training became progressively more difficult as participants improved their speed and accuracy,” a UF Health press release states. “Speed training causes physical changes in the brain that can lead to new, stronger connections between the brains.” brain network. ”
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After five years, participants reported benefits such as reduced difficulty with tasks such as cooking, taking medication, and managing household finances. After 10 years, those who received training in reasoning and processing speed “maintained improvements in cognitive performance,” the researchers shared.
Based on the latest 20 years of results, the team plans to launch follow-up trials to investigate how older adults can benefit from combining cognitive training with lifestyle habits such as physical activity. Improving your eating habits and blood pressure management.
“We’re most excited about being able to integrate real-world data like Medicare records with clinical trials like ours,” Marciske told Fox News Digital.
This study was funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Fox News Digital has reached out to UF Health for comment.
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Other recent studies have attempted to link certain lifestyle changes and exercise to reduced dementia risk. A new study published in the journal JMIR Serious Games shows that when you play certain games, on your smartphone It can improve your attention and memory.
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Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and founder of the Amen Clinic, previously commented on this method of brain training, saying that while it’s “important” to continue learning and challenging your brain, it’s important to set boundaries.
“If you can be disciplined, things like word games or Sudoku games, for example, can be helpful and have been shown to improve memory,” he told Fox News Digital.
“New learning is a very important and important strategy to reduce aging,” Amen continued. “You should spend 15 minutes a day learning something new that you don’t know, whether it’s a language, a musical instrument, a new gardening technique, or a new cooking technique.”
