Caroline Kee is a health reporter at TODAY based in New York City. She covers a range of medical news, consumer health, and wellness topics.
As we get older, it's normal for our cognitive abilities to start declining gradually. What we may gain in wisdom we lose in processing speed and short-term memory, for example. That's why it's important to keep our brains sharp by continuously challenging them.
These days, there's an increasing number of games and apps which promise to do exactly that — from word puzzles to memory exercises — but not all are equal. One specific type of brain game may not only improve everyday cognitive abilities, but also significantly lower the risk of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, recent research shows. Expert Tip of the Day: Play 'Speed of Processing Training' Games Online Playing brain games that feature a type of cognitive training called speed of processing may slash the risk of dementia among adults, NBC News reported previously. Speed training is designed to improve how quickly the brain processes information. The computer-based exercises ask people to identify multiple objects on a screen and make decisions about them, which gets harder and faster as the game progresses. It's similar to how the brain has to think when we're driving, Marilyn Albert, Ph.D., a neurologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, told NBC News. In the car, we have to pay attention to everything in front of us and in the periphery, then rapidly act or react accordingly. Playing games like “Double Decision” from BrainHQ in particular may improve speed of processing and delay cognitive decline. The game was originally developed by psychologists funded by the National Institutes of Health and used to train participants in a large, randomized controlled trial: the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study. Researchers previously found that speed training helped with everyday cognitive tasks, but new findings suggest that these games may also protect against multiple types of dementia. Why It Matters The latest research was a 20-year follow-up of the ACTIVE study, which followed 3,000 adults ages 65 and older. Researchers found that participants who did up to 23 hours of speed training had a 25% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia 20 years later compared to the control group. The participants with a lower dementia incidence completed 10 speed training sessions for five to six weeks — followed by booster sessions at 11 and 35 months. The results were “surprising” and “unexpected,” Alberts said. Albert recommends the Double Decision game for patients who are over 65, like those in the study. However, starting speed training at a younger age may also have a protective effect. The new study contributes to a growing body of evidence that simple, basic interventions, like playing a brain games or walking every day, could benefit our brains for decades. How to Get Started The Double Decision exercises from BrainHQ are part of a subscription program, but there is a free version of Double Decision available online. In addition to playing speed of processing training games, you can take other everyday steps to improve your brain health and lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Exercise regularly.Eat a nutritious diet rich in plants,Manage cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Stay socially connected.Practice a new skill.Limit or avoid alcohol. TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
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