Specific cognitive training has 'astonishing' effect on dementia risk

image via New Scientist

February 9, 2026, 12:52 PM

• •Cognitive speed training, specifically with booster sessions, reduces dementia risk.
• •The training involves computer-based tasks that improve speed, attention, and peripheral vision.
• •Participants in the speed training group with boosters showed a 25% lower dementia risk.
• •Implicit learning may play a key role in the long-lasting changes observed in the brain.
• •Further research will determine the optimal training amount.

A recent 20-year study indicates that cognitive speed training, particularly when combined with booster sessions, can significantly reduce the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Participants engaged in computer-based exercises designed to enhance cognitive speed, attention, and peripheral vision. The study revealed a 25% lower risk of dementia diagnosis in the speed training group with boosters compared to the control group, suggesting that specific brain training interventions may offer tangible benefits. While further research is needed to determine the optimal amount of training, the findings highlight the potential of activities involving implicit learning in delaying the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

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