Computer brain training helped thinking a little in older adults

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   About 4,885 people took part in 52 trials, with average ages of 60 to 82 and about 6 in 10 women. Two in three trials had weak points in how they were run.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each trial gave at least four hours of computer or video-game training. The other group either did something else or got no training. Training was in groups in 32 trials and at home in 19; 29 trials trained two or three times a week.

3. 03

   What happened

   Training helped thinking a little. Working memory, memory without words and speed also improved. Group training beat home training, but attention and executive functions showed no clear gain.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 51 trials, computer brain training helped overall thinking more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 51 studies · vs groups that did something else or no training · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. No differenceFocus

   Across 11 trials, computer brain training did not improve attention test scores any more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 11 studies · vs groups that did something else or no training · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 32 trials, training done in a group improved overall thinking, but training done at home did not.

   • Rule: Practise with a grouptested
   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisesused

   Pooled analysis of 32 studies · vs groups that did something else or no training · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 29 trials, training two or three times a week improved thinking; more than three a week did not.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisesused

   Pooled analysis of 29 studies · vs groups that did something else or no training · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source