Brain training may help breast cancer patients rate their thinking better, but not attention.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   666 people with breast cancer and thinking changes took part in nine trials, aged about 50 to 60. Five trials were in the United States, and the rest were in China, France, Belgium and Denmark.

2. 02

   What they did

   People did brain exercises for attention, memory or speed, 3 to 5 times a week for 5 to 12 weeks. Most used computer software, and the rest used paper workbooks, in groups or alone. Comparison groups got no treatment, usual care, a waiting group or other training.

3. 03

   What happened

   Brain training improved how people rated their own thinking and gave gains on memory and speed tests, with low to moderate certainty. Attention, planning and self-control, depression, anxiety and tiredness did not change clearly. Two trials did not say how people were randomly put into groups.

What the review found

1. No differenceFocus

   Across four studies, brain training did not improve attention more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs usual care, nothing, a waiting group or other training · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across six studies, brain training made people rate their own thinking higher than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 6 studies with 369 people · vs usual care, nothing, a waiting group or other training · they rated themselves · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across three studies, brain training improved scores on tests of keeping things in mind more than comparison groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 3 studies · vs usual care, nothing, a waiting group or other training · the authors rated their certainty moderate · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. No differenceOther outcomes

   Across four studies, brain training did not improve planning and self-control more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs usual care, nothing, a waiting group or other training · the authors rated their certainty very low · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source