Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production) Does Computerized Brain Training Help?
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Jan 30, 2026 A dive into a McGill trial that measured biological brain changes after computerized cognitive training. They compare speed-focused training to casual games and explain which tasks drive real plasticity. The science behind lasting cholinergic changes and who benefits most gets attention. Practical alternatives like music, sports, and dance are suggested as real-world ways to boost processing speed.
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Training Raised Cholinergic Capacity
- Targeted speed-of-processing training increased cholinergic signaling in older adults' anterior cingulate cortex.
- The average boost matched roughly a year's typical age-related decline, suggesting restorative plasticity.
Prefer Time-Pressured Processing Tasks
- Use time-pressured, speed-of-processing tasks (like Double Decision) rather than slow, rote games.
- Prioritize activities that force rapid attention and decision-making to drive neural change.
Biology Can Improve Before Test Scores
- Biological changes were measurable even when formal cognitive gains were modest for higher-performing participants.
- Those with lower baseline cognition showed larger testable improvements, while biology improved across the group.
