Brain Train or Money Drain?
Principles for Selecting A Scientifically Based
Computer Cognitive Training Program
Elizabeth M. Zelinski, PhD
Rita and Edward Polusky Chair in Education and Aging
Professor of Gerontology and Psychology
Supported in part by R01 AG10569, P50 AG005142, US National Institute on
Aging and H133E080024, US National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research, and the Center for Digital Aging grant from Health Care Partners, Inc.
Harmonized Longitudinal Studies
of Healthy Aging
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4 studies in 3 countries
9-21 years of follow up from age 55
Reasoning, Memory, Verbal Fluency, Vocabulary
Change in Cognitively Stimulating Activities Associated with Change in all 4 Abilities
Change in Physical Activities Associated with Change in Reasoning and Fluency
Change in Social Activities associated with Change in Cognitively Stimulating
Activities…
Mitchell, et al (2012). Journal of Aging Research.
Lindwall et al (2012). Journal of Aging Research.
Brown et al. (under review).
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Potential benefits of interventions in
healthy older adults
• Transfer to untrained cognitive
tasks
• Rehabilitate and improve declining
cognitive skills
• Ensure preservation of functional
ability
Image courtesy of
http://www.simpsoncrazy.com/pictures/homer
IMPACT: First Major Study of a Commercially Available BrainPlasticity Based Program For Older Adults/Active Control
group/Transfer Measures
• 3 sites
• 487 65-93 year old participants randomized to experimental and control
conditions
• 40 hours of experience in one hour sessions
• Posit Science Brain Fitness auditory program or educational DVDs
• 3 month follow up
Smith, G. E., Housen, P.,Yaffe, R. R., Ruff, R., Kennison, R. F., Mahncke, H. W., & Zelinski,
E. M.. (2009). A cognitive training program based on principles of brain plasticity: Results from
the Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training (IMPACT) Study.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 57, 594-603.
Zelinski, E. M., Spina, L. M., Yaffe, K., Ruff, R., Kennison, R. F., Mahncke, H. W., & Smith,
G. E. (2011). Improvement in Memory with Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Training
(IMPACT): Results of the 3-Month Follow-up. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 59,
Example training:
High or Low?
Demo at www.positscience.com
Experimental Training Program: 6 adaptive computerized auditory
training exercises
High or Low? Direction & order of frequency sweeps
Tell Us Apart: Phoneme Recognition
Sound Replay: Phoneme recognition span
Match It! “Concentration” with phonemes
Listen and Do: Following instructions
Story Teller: Recognition of story “facts”
Demo at www.positscience.com
Findings: Improvement for the Brain
Fitness Group
Rey Auditory Verbal
Learning Test List Recall
Wechsler Memory Scale
Working Memory
20
50
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Transfer to list recall
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Transfer to working memory
recall
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Improved subjective cognition
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Improvement in all subgroups
of participants
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Benefits retained at the 3
month follow up
19
49
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48
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47
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15
46
45
14
Pre Post
Experimental
Pre
Post
Control
13
Pre Post
Experimental
Pre
Post
Control
Zelinski, et al., (under review). Evaluating the relationship
between change in performance on training tasks and
untrained outcomes.
Principles of IMPACT’s Brain Plasticity Training
that Work Consistently across Studies
 Extended practice
 Challenging practice
 Adaptive approach
 Multimodal training: Speed + working memory training + complex
material
 Passive activities like watching educational materials on DVDs/TV are
not associated with the same improvements
Who does the training work for?
 Healthy, motivated adults with normal levels of cognitive
functioning
 People aged 65-93
 Slightly greater gains for
 Young-old participants
 Women
 People with more years of formal education
Zelinski, et al., (under review). Evaluating the relationship
between change in performance on training tasks and
untrained outcomes.
http://training.cog
med.com/demo3/
https://brainhq.positscience.com/default/start
#train/brain_speed/0/0/0
Caveat Emptor
• What to look for
– Scientific advisory
board?
– Clinical Trial with the
specific product?
– Transfer to untrained
tasks?
– Research with people in
your target group?
– Results published?
– Did you try it? Would
you use it 5 days a week
indefinitely?