Simple Brain-Training Exercise Found to Reduce Dementia Risk by 25 Percent

Researchers have discovered that a simple and low-cost brain-training exercise can significantly lower the risk of developing dementia, according to a new randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in medical research. The study, led by Johns Hopkins University, found that speed-focused brain training reduced dementia rates by a quarter over 20 years.

The trial, known as ACTIVE, included over 2,800 participants aged 65 and older, who were randomly assigned to one of three brain-training types—speed, memory, or reasoning—or a control group. Participants completed hour-long sessions twice a week for five weeks, with booster sessions one and three years later. Only the speed-training group, which involved clicking on cars and road signs on a computer screen, showed significant long-term benefits.

Study co-author Marilyn Albert explained that the training may enhance brain connectivity and adapts to individual abilities, which could explain its effectiveness. The findings suggest that accessible brain-training exercises could play a key role in dementia prevention, potentially saving billions in healthcare costs. The speed-training exercise, called Double Decision, is available on the BrainHQ app.

The study was published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Research and represents the first high-quality evidence that brain training can reduce dementia risk.