Brain training ‘delays onset of dementia’

Cognitive exercises such as memory tests can offset the expected decline in elderly people’s thinking skills, according to a US study.

Researchers claim that simple reasoning and speed of processing exercises can allow older adults to continue to perform everyday tasks such as cooking and paying bills.

Publishing their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), scientists studied 2,802 adults aged over 65 during a five-year study.

The individuals were separated intro four groups, with the first three receiving ten hour-long speed of processing, reasoning and memory training sessions respectively over a six-week period.

People in the fourth and final group did not receive any cognitive skill lessons.

Immediately after the tests had been carried out, researchers found that nine out of ten in the initial group had improved cognitive skills, compared to 74 per cent and about a quarter of people taking the reasoning and memory tests who displayed signs of progress.

Richard Hodes, director of the US’ National Institute on Aging, said: “This large trial found that community-dwelling seniors who received cognitive training had less of a decline in certain thinking skills than their peers who did not have training. The study addresses a very important hypothesis – that interventions can be designed to maintain cognitive function.

“The challenge now is to further examine these interventions and others to see how they can be employed in real-world settings.”