New research reveals why memory games may not prevent dementia on their own

A landmark longitudinal study has revealed that a specific form of cognitive exercise, known as "speed training," can reduce the risk of dementia by 25 per cent.

Dr Ayesha Sherzai, a neurologist and prominent health educator, highlighted the findings from the ACTIVE study, which followed 2,000 older adults over a twenty-year period.

Published in the February 2026 edition of Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, the research compared memory, reasoning, and speed-of-processing training to determine their long-term efficacy.

The results indicated that only speed training—computerised exercises requiring rapid processing of visual information while multitasking—offered significant protection.

Crucially, the benefit was observed only among participants who attended follow-up sessions. “Twenty years later, the scientists found out that people who did the speed training and those booster sessions had 25 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia,” stated Dr Sherzhai. “But people who only did the speed training without coming back for boosters, no benefit.”

Dr Sherzhai compared this cognitive demand to physical conditioning. “Think of it like physical exercise. You don't lift the same weight forever. You increase it,” she explained.

Unlike memory or reasoning tasks, speed training automatically scales in difficulty as the user improves. To achieve these results at home, the neurologist suggests that consistency and incremental difficulty are vital.

“Your brain needs to be challenged in a way that adapts as you improve, and it needs to be sustained over a long period of time, not just a one or a two-week thing,” she noted, adding that “staying in that zone of manageable discomfort is key.”

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.