For years, brain-training programs have advertised themselves as tools for improving memory, concentration, and overall brain health.
Millions of people have downloaded apps or completed puzzles hoping to stay mentally sharp. Yet scientists have often debated whether these exercises truly improve thinking skills outside the training activity itself.
A new study published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement offers fresh insight into this question. Researchers found that certain types of cognitive training can improve performance in other mental tasks, particularly among older adults. The results suggest that the brain may be more flexible than many people realize.
The study was led by Caroll-Ann Blanchette at the Montreal Heart Institute’s EPIC Center, working with Professor Louis Bherer from the University of Montreal. Their research focused on understanding whether improvements gained through cognitive exercises could extend beyond the original training activity.
This issue matters because the brain is constantly asked to handle complex situations in daily life.
A person may need to remember information while talking to someone, drive while paying attention to road signs, or manage several tasks at work at the same time. Researchers wanted to know whether practicing one mental skill could help improve performance in these real-world situations.
The study involved 84 volunteers. Some were young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, while others were older adults aged 60 years and above. The researchers divided participants into two training groups.
The first group completed a multitasking exercise. Participants had to identify two different sets of images at the same time using both hands. This required them to split their attention and coordinate multiple actions simultaneously.
The second group completed a memory-training exercise known as the n-back task. During this activity, numbers appeared one after another on a screen.
Participants had to remember numbers shown earlier and determine whether the current number matched one that appeared before. The task became more demanding as participants had to remember information from further back in the sequence.
Training sessions were completed over four weeks. Afterward, participants were tested again using new materials so that any improvements would reflect actual changes in mental ability rather than familiarity with the exercises.
The results showed clear improvements across all groups. People generally became better at the activities they practiced. However, the most surprising result involved older adults.
Older participants who completed the memory-training exercise not only improved their memory performance but also became better at multitasking. This means that gains in one mental skill transferred to a different skill. Researchers describe this as a transfer effect.
The same pattern was not observed among younger adults. While younger participants improved in the tasks they practiced, the broader transfer of benefits was less apparent.
Researchers believe the explanation may lie in how the brain changes with age. As people get older, different parts of the brain often work together more closely to compensate for age-related changes.
Older adults may rely more heavily on memory systems when managing multiple activities. Strengthening memory could therefore help support other mental functions.
Interestingly, the transfer effect was not equal in both directions. Multitasking practice improved multitasking performance, but it did not significantly improve performance on the most difficult memory tests. This finding suggests that some cognitive abilities may be more closely connected than others.
The study highlights the importance of variety in mental exercise. Rather than focusing on a single brain game or training activity, a combination of memory challenges, attention tasks, and multitasking exercises may provide greater benefits. This idea is especially relevant for older adults who want to maintain independence and cognitive function as they age.
The researchers are particularly interested in applying these findings to people with heart failure, a condition associated with a high risk of cognitive impairment. Future studies may help determine whether mixed cognitive-training programs can reduce that risk.
Analysis of the findings suggests that the study provides promising evidence that cognitive training can have broader benefits, especially for older adults. The research was carefully designed to test real transfer rather than simple learning of a specific game.
However, the sample size was modest, and the researchers did not directly measure whether participants became better at everyday activities such as driving or managing finances.
Future research involving larger groups and longer follow-up periods will be important. Nevertheless, the study adds to growing evidence that the brain remains capable of adapting and improving throughout life, offering hope for strategies that may help maintain cognitive health in later years.
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Source: University of Montreal.
