Cognitive training helps adults with memory problems

Adults with memory problems are still able to improve their cognitive performance with cognitive training, according to research published this week in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Though adults with memory problems did not improve their impaired ability to memorize new material, they still had the capacity to improve in other areas. Specifically, the individuals with memory impairment improved just as much at reasoning and processing speed as those with normal memory.

The press release suggests:

“These findings could indicate the ability for older adults to maintain skills that allow them to carry out daily tasks and lead a higher quality of life.”

This finding is the result of further analysis from the ACTIVE (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly) study, which is perhaps the largest and most ambitious study yet conducted to explore the effects of cognitive training. The ACTIVE study previously demonstrated that through training, elderly adults can improve in memory, processing speed, and reasoning. Last year, they additionally showed that some of these benefits are maintained 5 years after the training period.