Brain training on computers may help thinking, focus and memory after stroke.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   622 stroke patients took part in 17 trials, with 8 to 51 people in each trial. Their average ages ranged from 43 to 66, and most trials were in China and Korea.

2. 02

   What they did

   Trials compared computer brain training with usual care, a waiting group or other therapy. Most trials lasted four or 12 weeks.

3. 03

   What happened

   Computer training helped overall thinking, attention, keeping things in mind and planning and control more than other groups did. The attention result was only just clear, and daily living and low mood showed no clear difference. Many trials did not say how people were put into groups, and small studies with weak results may be missing.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   In 10 studies, computer brain training helped overall thinking more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 10 studies with 409 people · vs usual care, a waiting group, or other therapy · ⚠ signs that small negative studies went unpublished

2. HelpedFocus

   In seven studies, computer brain training helped people keep things in mind more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies with 310 people · vs usual care, a waiting group, or other therapy

3. HelpedFocus

   In three studies, computer brain training helped attention more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 3 studies with 156 people · vs usual care, a waiting group, or other therapy

4. HelpedOther outcomes

   In five studies, computer brain training helped planning and control skills more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies with 294 people · vs usual care, a waiting group, or other therapy

Source