Abstract

Brain training is a fun and simple intervention to keep minds active in older age. However, there are many unknowns. What benefits does it have on the brain? And can people living with dementia realistically brain train using technology they’re not necessarily familiar with? Dr Lucy Beishon wanted to find out whether people living with dementia can do brain training at home using a computer, and to see if it has potential to bring benefits.

Aims

To find out more, we designed and ran a feasibility study recruiting people living with dementia and, as comparisons, healthy older adults and people with mild cognitive impairment.

Using Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography (TCD), we measured participant’s brain blood flow before and after completing a three month brain training programme. We also looked at other measures like mood, quality of life and everyday function, which we know are important to older people.