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Scientists affiliated with five institutes in Western Australia conducted a systematic review of the research supporting various commercial brain-training products as it related to addressing cognitive decline of people aged 50 and older. This was the first systematic review of science behind such products, Of the 18 brain training programs the scientists reviewed, 11 had no studies that met the criteria for the review. Of the seven that had some evidence, BrainHQ topped the list: it had by far the most—and the best—scientific evidence backing it. The review is published in Neuropsychological Review.
What The Review Found
The reviewers looked at 244 journal articles and zeroed in on 26 studies of healthy aging and brain training. Ten of those were studies of Posit Science exercises; and 8 of the 10 were judged to be the highest quality. That’s a lot better than the second place program, which had three studies, of which only one was high quality. Lumosity ranked dead last, with one study of only moderate quality. For more detail, see the press release or FAQ.
Why This Matters
There has been some debate about whether or not brain training works. As this independent, non-sponsored review found, there is good evidence showing that it can—but it depends on the program. Some genuinely change brain function. Others are just games. Here at BrainHQ, we are delighted (though not surprised!) that our program was identified as the one with the most evidence for actually helping people.
About BrainHQ
BrainHQ is an online brain-training system built by Posit Science. It features 29 exercises that work out attention, memory, brain speed, intelligence, navigation, and people skills. More than 100 papers have been published in scientific journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, on the BrainHQ exercises and assessments.
