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Grantee in the News: Adam Gazzaley on Brain-Training Research

On June 20th, US World Reports/Health Day featured insights from two-time AFAR grantee, Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD. Dr. Gazzlaey commented on recently published research that some of the brain-boosting claims posed by commercial brain-training programs may be enhanced by a placebo effect.

Recent research found that when people are told they are participating in a brain-boosting study, they perform 5-10 points better on follow-up IQ tests than the control group. While this research does not prove there is no benefit from brain training programs, the study’s authors are critical that the scientific evidence sited by the commercial game companies may have not done a sufficient job controlling for the placebo effect.

Dr. Gazzaley agrees that while placebo effect is an issue for consideration, he also argues that brain training can offer real cognitive benefits. He states: “With careful development and high-level rigorous validation, we will see these tools emerge as powerful approaches to improve cognitive ability, but I agree that right now, with the data that's out there, caution is certainly advised."

Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD is a Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry and the Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

Read more about Dr. Gazzaley’s research on brain training games and the cognitive impacts for older people here.

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