Computerized Brain Exercise Improves Memory
SAN FRANCISCO, Apr. 6 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Breakthrough Study Led by USC and Mayo Clinic of Posit Science Software
Older adults can significantly improve their memory and performance at
everyday activities by training with computerized brain exercises, according
to a study published today in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The randomized controlled trial of 487 healthy older adults was led by
researchers at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Southern California.
Half were assigned to a group that trained with brain fitness software for
four to five hours a week for eight weeks. The other half spent an equal
amount of time doing traditional coursework on the computer, involving
lectures and quizzes.
The study found that 97 percent of those using the software, The Brain
Fitness Program(TM) from Posit Science(R), increased their processing speed --
typically more than doubling their speed, with an average increase of 131
percent. They also experienced gains on standard measures of memory and
attention of 10 years, on average. In addition, participants reported
significant improvements in performing everyday activities.
The gains of the brain exercise group were clinically significant; the
gains of the lecture group were significantly smaller and not clinically
significant.
The Brain Fitness Program was developed by a global team of
neuroscientists. It consists of six computer exercises that continuously
adjust based on performance.
Marlene Allen, aged 75, of Mill Valley, California, participated in the
study. "Now I don't have to write down shopping lists," said Ms. Allen. "And
I almost never walk into a room and forget why anymore."
"The changes we saw in the experimental group were remarkable," said Liz
Zelinski, PhD, principal investigator from USC. "People got better at the
tasks trained, those improvements generalized to standard measures of memory
and people noticed improvements in their lives."
The study is the first published in a medical journal to show memory and
attention gains in older adults using a widely available brain fitness
program.
About Posit Science:
Posit Science works with more than 50 scientists from leading
universities to develop its software, which has been shown to significantly
improve processing speed, memory, attention and quality of life in more than
30 peer-reviewed papers. Posit Science has received numerous NIH grants and
other awards and is currently featured in two PBS documentaries: "The Brain
Fitness Program" and "Brain Fitness 2." For more information, visit
SOURCE: Posit Science
CONTACT: Robbi Peele of Posit Science
+1-415-568-3558
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