Researchers enrolled older adults in 1998–1999 and gave different types of cognitive training: memory, reasoning, or speed of processing. Training was up to ten sessions over several weeks, and half the participants had booster sessions about one and three years later.
For a 20-year follow-up, investigators reviewed Medicare records for many participants between 1999 and 2019. Adults who completed speed training, especially with boosters, were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia up to twenty years later. Earlier results also showed benefits for everyday tasks after training.
Difficult words
- enroll — to sign people to join a studyenrolled
- cognitive — related to thinking and mental skills
- booster — an extra session later to keep skills
- diagnose — to identify an illness by tests or signsdiagnosed
- dementia — a health condition that affects memory and thinking
- follow-up — later check or review after the first action
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which training would you try: memory, reasoning, or speed? Why?
- Would you want booster sessions after training? Why or why not?
- Do you use any exercises for thinking or memory? How often?
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