A study that evaluated the research to date on the impact of so-called “brain exercise” programs on healthy elderly people found that randomized, controlled trials show no evidence that these programs delay or even slow progression of cognitive changes in these people. The study from Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest healthcare system, puts the price tag on such programs at $80 million a year.

 

There is much research on the benefits of cognitive rehabilitation strategies among elderly who already experience mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease, as well as on the positive impact of physical exercise. But the researchers wanted to look at research on the impact of cognitive interventions in the healthy elderly population.

 

The researchers determined that the last meta-analysis performed on studies of healthy elderly and memory training was published in 1992. Since then, the definition of cognitive training has expanded and media attention has sparked an increase in public awareness with more and more Americans trying to curtail the effects of aging. As a result, Americans are now expected to spend $80 million this year on brain exercise products, compared to $2 million in 2005.

 

Through a systematic review of literature using established techniques to analyze randomized controlled trials of cognitive interventions in the healthy elderly, the researchers found a very small number of studies that met their criteria. Those that did meet the criteria were determined to be limited in their methodologies or were often lacking in follow-up. The study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, concluded that there was no evidence indicating that structured cognitive intervention programs had an impact on the progression of dementia in the healthy elderly population.

 

“The brain aging products sold today can be a financial drain, decrease participation in more proven effective lifestyle interventions, like exercise, and potentially undermine cognitive health by frustrating the worried well if poorly designed,” says senior author Peter Snyder, vice president of research for Lifespan, and a professor of clinical neurosciences at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

 

The researchers say evidence-based information regarding cognitive intervention in healthy elderly needs to be gathered and presented clearly to both the scientific community and the elderly population. “More random clinical trials in cognitive training need to be conducted with sufficient follow-up time that can actually measure changes in daily functioning,” they said. “Only in that way will we know if such exercises are effective in slowing the progress of [mild cognitive impairment].”