Brain training games can help prevent dementia in people at high risk of the disease
- Researchers found they benefited adults with ‘mild cognitive impairment’
- People in this group have a 1 in 10 risk of getting dementia within a year
- Brain training games also helped to improve mood and quality of life
Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail
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Computer brain training might be able to prevent dementia in people at high risk of the disease, a study suggests.
Brain training involves adults playing video games that are designed to exercise the brain.
Researchers found the games benefited adults with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ – declines in memory and other mental abilities.
This group have a 1 in 10 risk of getting dementia within a year.
Brain training games benefited adults with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ – declines in memory and other mental abilities, scientists found
But once dementia had set in, the brain training apps had no effect, the researchers said.
Scientists at the University of Sydney reviewed 20 years of studies into brain training.
They showed the games improved overall cognitive abilities, memory, learning and attention.
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The training also improved mood and quality of life, as judged by the games users.
The games only worked for the mildly impaired, the research reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Mild cognitive impairment involves a decline in memory and other thinking skills despite generally intact daily living skills.
But once dementia had set in, the brain training apps had no effect, the researchers from the University of Sydney said
It is one of strongest risk factors for dementia. People with mild cognitive impairment are at one-in-10 risk of developing dementia within a year – and the risk is markedly higher among those with depression.
Brain training is a treatment for enhancing memory and thinking skills by practising mentally challenging computer-based exercises – which are designed to look and feel like video games.
Dr Amit Lampit, the lead author, said the results showed brain training could play an important role in helping to prevent dementia.
‘Our research shows that brain training can maintain or even improve cognitive skills among older people at very high risk of cognitive decline – and it’s an inexpensive and safe treatment.’
The ‘meta-analysis’ of research combined data from 17 randomised clinical trials including nearly 700 subjects.
Previously the team has found brain training useful for healthy older adults and those with Parkinson’s disease.
Mild cognitive impairment involves a decline in memory and other thinking skills despite generally intact daily living skills (stock)
Dr Lampit added: ‘Taken together, these wide-ranging analyses have provided the necessary evidence to pursue clinical implementation of brain training in the aged-care sector – while continuing research aimed at improving training effectiveness.’
Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘We’ve seen a lot of excitement recently about brain training to help protect against dementia.
‘While there’s not much evidence that it can delay or prevent the condition, this review shows that it could help people with mild cognitive impairment to improve their memory, thinking, and learning.
‘We’re seeing more and more evidence of the real-life benefits of brain training, helping us to find potential ways of holding on to our cognitive abilities.
‘Now, we need to work out how we could turn specially-designed brain training into activities that are widely accessible and available.’
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