Brain Training App Shows Promise in Reversing Age-Related Cognitive Decline
A digital brain exercise program has demonstrated the ability to restore a key brain signaling chemical to levels typically seen in individuals a decade younger, according to a new study published today.
Neurologists at McGill University in Canada conducted a rigorous, double-blinded controlled trial involving 82 healthy adults over the age of 65. Participants were randomly assigned to use either Posit Science Corporation’s ‘BrainHQ’ app, focusing on speed-based challenges, or a recreational computer game for thirty minutes daily over ten weeks. Brain scans revealed that those using BrainHQ exhibited measurable increases in cholinergic activity within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region of the brain crucial for attention, inhibitory control, and memory.
“The training restored cholinergic health to levels typically seen in someone 10 years younger,” stated neurologist Etienne de Villers-Sidani from McGill. “This is the first time any intervention, drug or non-drug, has been shown to do that in humans.” The increase in cholinergic signaling was comparable to the typical decline experienced over a ten-year period. This finding is significant as declining cholinergic activity is linked to age-related cognitive issues, potentially impacting millions as populations age.
While preliminary, the results suggest a potential non-pharmaceutical approach to supporting brain health. Researchers caution that further trials with larger and more diverse groups are needed to determine if these changes translate to lasting improvements in everyday cognitive function. The study utilized advanced brain scanning technology available at only a few centers worldwide, including the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, and builds on hundreds of peer-reviewed papers supporting the app’s development. You can learn more about maintaining cognitive function from the National Institute on Aging.
Researchers plan to continue investigating the long-term effects of BrainHQ and explore its potential benefits for individuals at risk of cognitive decline.
