Key Takeaways
- A cognitive speed training game reduces dementia risk by 25% in men.
- The training increases the ratio of beta-amyloid 42 found in the blood, suggesting better clearance from the brain.
- This is the first time a mental exercise has been shown to influence neurodegenerative markers.
A new study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London on July 12th has revealed that cognitive speed training can significantly reduce dementia risk by clearing beta-amyloid from men's brains. The research, conducted by Hye Won Chai and colleagues at Clemson University, demonstrates a direct link between mental exercises and brain health.
The computer-based speed training involves recalling where objects have flashed up on a screen, with the difficulty increasing as performance improves. Participants were asked to complete 2 to 4 hours of this training each week for 4.5 months. A prior 20-year study by Chai's colleagues showed that people aged 65 and older who engaged in similar cognitive exercises were 25% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia compared to a control group.
In the latest study, blood samples from participants at the start and end of the training period revealed an increase in the ratio of two forms of beta-amyloid found in the blood among men who completed the speed training. This suggests that the brain's ability to clear beta-amyloid 42 was enhanced by the training. Beta-amyloid is a protein that forms clumps called plaques in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease, disrupting brain function.
Sasha Novozhilova from McGill University praised the findings, stating, 'It is definitely strengthening what they’ve [previously] shown with the reduction in dementia.' The study highlights the potential of cognitive exercises to improve brain health and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
While some treatments for Alzheimer’s, such as lecanemab, aim to clear amyloid from the brain, their limited effectiveness is often attributed to being administered too late in the disease process. Engaging in cognitive training earlier may offer a more sustainable approach to reducing dementia risk.
The findings are particularly significant because they provide direct evidence that mental exercises can influence neurodegenerative markers. This opens up new avenues for developing preventive strategies against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, potentially through lifestyle interventions such as regular cognitive training.
Further research is needed to confirm these results in a larger sample size and to explore the long-term effects of speed training on brain health. However, this study provides strong support for incorporating cognitive exercises into daily routines to maintain mental acuity and reduce the risk of dementia.
'One of the main markers that’s indicative of future dementia risk got better for men who completed cognitive speed training,' says Hye Won Chai at Clemson University.
Hye Won Chai, Researcher, Clemson University
'It is definitely strengthening what they’ve [previously] shown with the reduction in dementia.'
Sasha Novozhilova, McGill University
