Over an eight-week period, participants in the training group practiced computerized exercises designed to improve the speed and accuracy of auditory information processing, while those in a control group watched educational videos. He and his colleagues tested a computerized brain-training program in adults over 65 who did not have dementia. Smith's study was dubbed Improvements in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training, or IMPACT. Now, he says, "I'm not so much a skeptic."
#Free memory exercises for seniors trial#
That conversation led to his designing a randomized trial to put the product to the test. Then about 10 years ago, a researcher from Posit Science approached him at a scientific conference. Smith admits he started out as a brain-training doubter. His research has shown that training people in one cognitive skill can lead to benefits in other areas of cognition, such as memory and attention. Many commercial brain games target this ability with the hope that processing-speed improvements will spill over into other cognitive domains, says Glenn Smith, PhD, a neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic and a member of the APA Committee on Aging. As early as our 20s or 30s, we see drop-offs in perceptual speed - our ability to quickly and accurately respond to simple stimuli, such as scanning a printed text to find all the words with the letter "a." "These are simple tasks that everyone can do, but the ability to do them slows down with age," Willis says. But it's not the first cognitive skill to decline, says Sherry Willis, PhD, a developmental psychologist at the University of Washington. Out scoring your grandkids at their favorite video game is all but impossible.Īs we get older, memory loss is often a chief complaint. Multitasking becomes increasingly difficult. As the years go by, you're more likely to misplace your keys or forget an acquaintance's name. Slowing downĬognitive decline is an unavoidable part of aging, even for those who don't experience dementia. But scientists are still sorting out the specifics about how best to turn that training into brain games that work. According to a 2013 report by independent market-research firm SharpBrains, the brain-health industry surpassed $1 billion in revenues in 2012.īut how effective are they? Psychologists have found that cognitive training can, in fact, have payoffs for skills like memory and problem solving.
The companies advertise that their games improve such cognitive skills as memory, attention, processing speed, mental flexibility and problem solving. "Brain health" companies such as Lumosity and Posit Science offer popular Web and mobile games that promise to act like a fountain of youth for your gray matter. But what good is a shiny racecar with a rusted-out engine under the hood? Staying mentally sharp is a top concern for our graying population - and it's big business, too. In our youth-obsessed culture, gray hair and crow's feet command a lot of time, money and attention.
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