Unique Brain Exercise Shown in Study to Lower Risk of Dementia
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
SAN FRANCISCO, July 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Researchers announced
breakthrough study results Monday -- indicating that a particular form and dose
of brain training can reduce the risk of dementia by 48 percent over a ten-year
period in cognitively healthy, community-dwelling older adults. The
computerized exercise found effective in the study is currently marketed by
Posit Science to subscribers of its BrainHQ online service.
Dr. Jerri Edwards of the University of South Florida revealed the results from a
10-year, longitudinal study at the Alzheimer's Association International
Conference in Toronto. These are the latest results reported from the Advanced
Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study, a multi-
site, randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institute on Aging.
The ACTIVE Study enrolled 2,802 healthy adults aged 65 and older, who were
randomized into four groups: 1) a strategy-based memory training, 2) a strategy-
based reasoning training, 3) a perceptual-based, computerized speed of
processing training, and 4) a no-contact control group measured at the same time
as the intervention arms of the study.
Participants in the three intervention arms were asked to complete 10 hours of
training over a five-week period. To collect dosing data, a subset of
participants were asked to complete additional booster sessions of training
after 11 and 35 months.
Participants in the ACTIVE Study were measured on an extensive battery of
standardized assessments, including primary outcomes related to speed, memory,
reasoning, and functional performance, and secondary outcomes related to mood,
confidence, self-rated health, predicted healthcare costs, and driving.
Participants were assessed at the beginning of the study, after five weeks of
training, and at one, two, three, five and 10 years after training.
Numerous journal articles have previously been published on primary and
secondary outcomes at each measurement period. This is the first report of
results on the incidence of dementia at the 10-year mark.
Researchers found no significant difference in incidence of dementia for the
memory or reasoning training groups as compared to the control group. However,
as compared to the control group, the speed of processing training group had a
33 percent reduction in risk of dementia, a statistically significant difference
(p=0.012).
The researchers further saw a significant dose-response function. After
adjusting for other variables indicating risk for dementia (e.g., race, sex,
mental status, physical status, depressive symptoms), participants who were
asked to engage in more than 10 sessions of the computerized brain training
showed a 48 percent reduction in the risk of dementia as compared to the control
group (p=.005).
Participants in the speed of processing training engaged in a task designed to
improve speed and accuracy of visual attention, including both divided and
selective attention. To perform the divided attention training task, a user
identified an object at the center of gaze while simultaneously locating a
target in the periphery. With each correct response, the presentation time
became faster, and the targets became more similar. At more advanced levels,
distractors obscured the peripheral target, engaging selective attention.
In prior reports from the ACTIVE study, participants using this exercise have
been shown to have better performance than the controls on a number of measures,
including, performance in standard measures of every day activities, mood,
confidence, self-rated health, predicted healthcare costs, and driving.
"Clearly, the time spent on effective brain training has potential long lasting
benefits for many aspects of older adults' lives," Dr. Edwards said.
The exercise was developed by Dr. Karlene Ball of the University of Alabama
Birmingham and Dr. Dan Roenker of Western Kentucky University. It is now
exclusively licensed to Posit Science Corporation, and is available as the
"Double Decision" exercise of the BrainHQ.com brain training program.
"This is an exciting new study result," said Dr. Henry Mahncke, the CEO of Posit
Science. "It fits nicely with results on our exercises and assessments reported
in other studies on cognition and aging, as well as with studies on clinical
populations. With the help of new and existing investors, we plan to continue
our efforts to improve performance among healthy adults, while accelerating our
efforts with regulatory authorities to gain clearance to market products which
address cognitive diseases and disorders."
"Brain speed has been described as the signature deficit of aging -- the speed
of brain processes reaches its peak in the middle of life, then in the average
older individual inexorably declines decade by decade," said Dr. Michael
Merzenich, co-founder of Posit Science and recently-named Kavli Laureate.
"Processing speed is a key index of brain health status-akin, in its diagnostic
value, to blood pressure measurements for cardiovascular health."
Posit Science takes a unique and patented bottom-up approach to refining sensory
and perceptual processing as the foundation to enhanced cognitive performance.
Its exercises and assessments have shown benefit in more than 130 peer-reviewed
articles, demonstrating gains in standard measures of cognition (such as speed,
attention, memory, executive function), as well as in real world activities
(such as, driving, balance, gait, everyday tasks).
For additional information, contact:
Jeff Zimman
jeff.zimman(at)positscience.com
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Posit Science via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#2031265]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 27.07.2016 - 21:18 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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