Memory enhancement in healthy older adults using a brain plasticity-based training program: a randomized, controlled study

Abstract

Normal aging is associated with progressive functional losses in perception, cognition, and memory. Although the root causes of age-related cognitive decline are incompletely understood, psychophysical and neuropsychological evidence suggests that a significant contribution stems from poorer signal-to-noise conditions and down-regulated neuromodulatory system function in older brains. Because the brain retains a lifelong capacity for plasticity and adaptive reorganization, dimensions of negative reorganization should be at least partially reversible through the use of an appropriately designed training program. We report here results from such a training program targeting age-related cognitive decline. Data from a randomized, controlled trial using standardized measures of neuropsychological function as outcomes are presented. Significant improvements in assessments directly related to the training tasks and significant generalization of improvements to nonrelated standardized neuropsychological measures of memory (effect size of 0.25) were documented in the group using the training program. Memory enhancement appeared to be sustained after a 3-month no-contact follow-up period. Matched active control and no-contact control groups showed no significant change in memory function after training or at the 3-month follow-up. This study demonstrates that intensive, plasticity-engaging training can result in an enhancement of cognitive function in normal mature adults.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: M.M.M. is a founder and a minor stockholder of the company (Posit Science) that developed this brain science-based training strategy. All authors hold stock or stock options in Posit Science Corporation. All authors except M.M.M. are employees of Posit Science Corporation.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Impact of pretraining assessment ceiling effects on change in global auditory memory score. Change in global auditory memory score in all participants (Left) (ET, n = 53; AC, n = 53; and NCC, n = 56) and participants that had no pretraining RBANS subtest raw score >85% of the maximum possible (Right) (ET, n = 22; AC, n = 23; and NCC, n = 22) is shown. Error bars are 95% confidence limits. Significant effects are seen only in the ET groups. Including only participants without ceiling effects shows a larger effect in the ET group, suggesting that effect size in the entire group was limited by ceiling effects in the measure. ∗, P < 0.025; ∗∗, P < 0.001; n.s., not significant.