By Paddy Kamen
Jerri Edwards, Ph.D. Can you significantly lower your risk of dementia by playing a game? Yes, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) meeting in Denver, CO in August 2016.
Jerri Edwards, Ph.D, of the University of South Florida, presented a study known as ‘ACTIVE’ (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly), which followed 2,832 participants, ages 65 to 94. Participants practiced a brain training exercise known as ‘speed of processing training’ or ‘useful field of view’ (UFOV) training.
Edward’s found that UFOV training reduced the risk of dementia in older adults by 48 percent over 10 years when they completed 11 or more training sessions. In fact, for each session of training the risk of dementia was reduced by eight percent. What a stunning result!
Jerri Edwards, Ph.D, of the University of South Florida, presented a study known as ‘ACTIVE’ (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly), which followed 2,832 participants, ages 65 to 94. Participants practiced a brain training exercise known as ‘speed of processing training’ or ‘useful field of view’ (UFOV) training.
Edward’s found that UFOV training reduced the risk of dementia in older adults by 48 percent over 10 years when they completed 11 or more training sessions. In fact, for each session of training the risk of dementia was reduced by eight percent. What a stunning result!
Brain Training Game Reduces Risk for Dementia The news release from the APA states: “This highly specific exercise is designed to improve the speed and accuracy of visual attention or someone’s mental quickness. For example, during one task, a person must identify an object (e.g., a car or truck) at the center of a screen while locating a target, such as another car, in his or her peripheral vision. As people practice the task, the time it takes them to locate the peripheral object gets shorter and shorter, even as the objects become harder to distinguish. In more difficult tasks, the peripheral target is surrounded by distracting objects, forcing the person to work harder to stay focused.”
Participants who completed the speed of processing training experienced improved performance across standard cognitive (attention), behavioral (depressive symptoms, feelings of control), functional (health-related quality of life, functional performance) and real world measures (driving, predicted health care costs).
Participants who completed the speed of processing training experienced improved performance across standard cognitive (attention), behavioral (depressive symptoms, feelings of control), functional (health-related quality of life, functional performance) and real world measures (driving, predicted health care costs).
Dr. Michael Merzenich The game used in the ACTIVE research study, known as Double Decision, was developed exclusively for Posit Science Inc., a company started by Dr. Michael Merzenich. I highly recommend that you read about Merzenich’s groundbreaking research in The Brain that Changes Itself, a marvelous book by Norman Doidge (which is about much more than just Merzenich). Posit Science offers a suite of brain training ‘games’ at www.brainhq.com. A video on Double Decision is found here. Merzenich’s book, Soft-Wired, is also recommended. He is making incredible contributions to human well being.