Brain Matters (The ISLAND Project)
Can Brain Training Really Reduce Dementia Risk?
Can a computer-based brain-training program really reduce the risk of dementia? In this episode of Brain Matters , host Neil Broomfield speaks with Dr Eddy Roccati about a recent headline claiming that specific cognitive training had an “astonishing” effect on dementia risk. Together, they unpack the research behind the story — a long-term analysis of the ACTIVE study, which followed older adults for up to 20 years and found that one specific type of speed-of-processing training, when reinforced with booster sessions, was linked with a lower risk of diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. But does this mean all brain-training games prevent dementia? Not quite. Neil and Eddy slow down the headline, explore what kind of training was actually tested, discuss relative versus absolute risk, and consider what listeners should look for when judging brain-health claims in the news. Based on: New Scientist article: “Specific cognitive training has ‘astonishing’ effect on dementia risk” Study: Impact of cognitive training on claims-based diagnosed dementia over 20 years: evidence from the ACTIVE study Listener Reflection Questions Did hearing more about the study change how convincing the “brain training reduces dementia risk” headline felt to you — and why? Why does it matter whether a 25 per cent reduction is a relative reduction or an absolute reduction? What kinds of mentally stimulating activities do you already enjoy — and how do they fit into your wider brain-health habits? Brought to you by the ISLAND Project and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. To continue the discussion and for more information visit https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au or email island@dementia.uas.edu.au
