Can a simple computer game really help keep dementia at bay?
It sounds almost too easy. But a new long-running study suggests it might.
Researchers followed more than 2,800 adults aged 65 and older, starting in the late 1990s.
Participants were split into groups: some trained their memory, others worked on reasoning skills, and one group practiced “speed training.”
It was a fast-paced exercise clicking on cars and road signs flashing across a screen.
The routine wasn’t intense: about 24 hours total, spread out over weeks, with a few booster sessions later.
Brain Training Debate
Twenty years on, the results turned heads. Those who did the speed training had a 25 percent lower risk of developing dementia, according to Medicare records.
“For the first time, this is a gold-standard study that’s given us an idea of what we can do,” said co-author Marilyn Albert of Johns Hopkins.
But not so fast. Outside experts urge caution. Rachel Richardson from Cochrane noted the margin of error ranged widely.
Meaning the true benefit could be far smaller.
Statistician Baptiste Leurent added that one positive subgroup finding isn’t “strong enough evidence” on its own.
So what’s happening in the brain? Albert suspects improved “connectivity,” though the exact mechanism remains a mystery.
One game isn’t a miracle cure. But if a few hours of mental agility could save billions — and sharpen minds — isn’t it worth a closer look?
