Does 'Brain Training' Really Improve Cognition and Forestall Cognitive Decline?

One popular approach is"brain training." While not a scientific term with an established definition, it"typically refers to tasks or drills that are designed to strengthen specific aspects of one's cognitive function," Yuko Hara, PhD, director of Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, toldManuel Montero-Odasso, MD, PhD, director of the Gait and Brain Lab, Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario, Canada, elaborated.

Neuroplasticity changes have been corroborated through neuroimaging, which has demonstrated that after cognitive training, there is more activation in the prefrontal cortex that correlates with new synapses, Montero-Odasso said. "The general consensus is that for most brain-training programs, people may get better at specific tasks through practice, but these improvements don't necessarily translate into improvement in other tasks that require other cognitive domains or prevention of dementia or age-related cognitive decline," Hara said.

Screenshot from a BrainHQ game used in the ACTIVE study. One of two possible targets flashes in the center of gaze , while a third target appears on the periphery . With correct answers, the exercise speeds up, distractors appear on the periphery, periphery widens, and contrast lowers between targets and background.. They teach"top-down" skills and strategies designed to compensate for deficits in specific domains, such as reading, concentration, or fine motor skills.

The researchers found that after 6 months of interventions, all active arms with aerobic-resistance exercise showed improvement in the ADAS-Cog-13, an established outcome to evaluate dementia treatments, when compared with the control group — regardless of the addition of cognitive training or vitamin D.

"Engaging in mentally stimulating activities can increase 'cognitive reserve' — meaning, capacity of the brain to resist the effects of age-related changes or disease-related pathology, such that one can maintain cognitive function for longer," Hara said."Cognitively stimulating activities, regardless of the type, may help delay the onset of cognitive decline."

Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)

MCI - Mild Cognitive Impairment Minimal Cognitive Impairment MCI Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Brain Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer Disease Exercise Physical Activity Healthcare And Medical Technology Health And Medical Tech Health And Med Tech Health And Medical Technology Healthcare Technology Medical Technology Dementia Cognition Geriatrics Elder Care

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