Brain‑Speed Games Cut Dementia Risk by a Quarter

A comprehensive study followed nearly 3,000 older adults for twenty years, revealing a significant finding:

The Power of Speed Training

Among various brain exercises, speed training stood out. Participants engaged in games that required them to quickly identify and react to visual clues.

Key Findings

• 25% Reduction in Dementia Risk: Those who completed an initial five-week program and refresher sessions at one year and three years later saw a 25% reduction in dementia risk.
• Benefit Disappears Without Maintenance: Participants who stopped after the initial program did not retain the benefits.
• Long-Term Protection: Less than 24 hours of total training could protect individuals well into their eighties and nineties.
• Tracking Methodology: The research utilized Medicare records to monitor diagnoses.

Why Speed Training Works

Researchers hypothesize that speed training taps into "implicit learning"—skills that become automatic. In contrast, memory and reasoning drills rely on "explicit learning", which may decline with age.

Study Significance

This study is the first to demonstrate a 20-year link between brain training and reduced dementia risk. It complements earlier research showing that speed training enhances daily cognitive function for up to ten years.

Additional Healthy Habits

Other lifestyle factors, such as maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels and regular exercise, also contribute to lowering dementia risk. Combining these with speed training may offer even greater protection, though further research is needed.