20-Year Study Finds Speed-Training Game Cuts Dementia Risk 25% With Booster Sessions
Updated
Updated · Women's Health · Jul 13
20-Year Study Finds Speed-Training Game Cuts Dementia Risk 25% With Booster Sessions
3 articles · Updated · Women's Health · Jul 13
Summary
Nearly 3,000 adults 65 and older were tracked for 20 years, and those who used a speed-training video game plus booster sessions showed a 25% lower dementia diagnosis risk.
Up to 10 initial sessions over five weeks were not enough on their own: participants without later boosters saw no benefit, and neither memory-training nor reasoning-training groups reduced risk.
Researchers linked the effect to faster processing speed and broader cognitive engagement, which may help protect against some slower-response forms of dementia.
Experts called the findings promising but preliminary, saying the results need replication in larger and more diverse groups before the game can be recommended as proven dementia prevention.
The study adds to broader advice on keeping the brain active in older age, alongside exercise, blood-pressure control, reading, classes and music.