Ramble - brain training!

Computer games are often in the news for the wrong reasons, but every so often things pop up that show how games can improve our lives.  In this case, our cognitive functions.

Pretty much everyone has heard of Dr Kawashima's brain training software.  Sitting on the shelf in front of me is an old copy of 'Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?' (PEGI-3).  But does this stuff WORK?  I came to think about this again recently as I heard about a new study to see whether cognitive training can help people with Huntingdon's Disease.  Obviously brain training can't cure Huntingdon's, but it may improve quality of life.  The study, led by Dr Emma Yhnell, is using brain training exercises that specifically train thinking skills of executive function, using number puzzles, word games and tasks that measure attention.  Participants will play the games for 30 minutes, three times a week, for 12 weeks.  I will be interested to see the results!

Brain Training was big in 2005!

All those years ago, when Kawashima's games became so popular, he insisted that brain training could help those with dementia.  But he lamented the fact that few proper clinical trials had been carried out to prove whether cognitive training could be beneficial.  Professor Ryuta Kawashima, of Tohoku University, appears to have shown that brain training could not only slow the onset of dementia, but it might actually improve cognitive function.  You might find it hard to believe him, since he's made so much money from his games and books, but apparently he ploughed much of the money into the research centre at Tohoku University (the Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer).  More than anywhere else in the world, Japan has a large ageing population - it needs ways to keep people's minds healthy for as long as possible.

Memory problems are one of the first things you notice about Alzheimer's patients - a 2013 study looked at cognitive rehabilitation and training for dementia patients, to see if brain training could improve memory function.  Sadly there was no statistically significant effect, though there were some 'modest, non-significant effects' - the study concluded that more research was needed.

A Parkinson's study in 2014 used a 'cognitive remediation program' to see if it could enhance gait and mobility.  (The motor function problems are associated with cognitive issues such as executive function and attention.)  The games were designed to improve executive function and attention and were played for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, for 12 weeks.  (The same as the new Huntingdon's study.)  The study concluded that the training did improve cognitive function and had a beneficial carryover effect to certain aspects of mobility.  But more research was needed...  (There's a pattern here!)  

A 2016 study, "Brain training: hype or hope?" suggested that if you do brain training exercises you get better at the brain training exercises, but it's hard to say much more than that.  They did seem to suggest that cognitive enhancement was possible, but larger and more thoroughly designed studies were needed.

Finally, an interesting article from 2017 looked at different brain training products to see which ones had evidence to back up their claims.  It looked at 18 brain training programs that were marketed with scientific claims.  Only seven of these had been assessed by peer-reviewed studies.  Only two met their highest standards (they had at least two well-designed randomised controlled trials).  These were BrainHQ and Cognifit.  Both of these websites offer programs that cost money per month, though BrainHQ offers some exercises for free.  The article finishes by saying that it's not clear why brain training works (or even if it really does).  It may be creating new neural pathways.  It may simply increase the blood circulation in the brain, in which case you can also improve by social interaction, exercise, diet, etc.  

BBC Music Memories website

It seems obvious that if you have things to occupy your mind it keeps your mind healthier.  Good dementia care homes have long used different activities to try and stimulate patients, such as music therapy.  I love the new BBC Music Memories website, which gives an easy way to find music from particular eras.  Music plays a big part in our formative teenage years, so choosing songs from those can be really successful.  My nan has Alzheimer's and was born in the 1920's; the website suggests popular tunes from the 30's by Gracie Fields and Fred Astaire.  What a great idea!

So... that's my serious ramble.  It's certainly an area that should be researched more.  It could be a cheap way of helping a lot of people.  Computer games needn't all be brain-melting disasters...