Can brain training lead to short term and sustained improvements in cognitive function?

A randomised single-blind three-armed controlled trial comparing evidence-based reasoning brain training (RBT), general brain training (GBT) and a control treatment to determine short term and sustained improvements in cognitive function

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN72895114

Enrollment

100000

Registered

2009-09-18

Start date

2010-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-08-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dementia prevention Nervous System Diseases Alzheimer?s disease

Interventions

1. RBT will focus upon tasks related to reasoning and problem solving. In the Willis et al (2006) study, which provides the best evidence base for sustained benefit, reasoning training was the only br

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: As part of an exciting partnership between the BBC and the Alzheimer's Society, the BBC will invite all adults in the UK and internationally to take part in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of brain training. It is anticipated that between 75,000 and 100,000 participants will take part. The population will be analysed as two separate studies: 1. All adults, either sex 2. Adults aged greater than 60 years, either sex

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Aged less than 20 years 2. Dementia 3. Not living in UK

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Overall performance on cognitive tasks (composite score) at 6 weeks and 12 months in all participants comparing RBT and dummy/placebo treatment 2. Everyday activities at 12 months in participants over 60 comparing RBT and dummy/placebo treatment	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. All participants: Cognitive test battery including: 1.1. Memory 1.2. Working memory 1.3. Speed 1.4. Fluid intelligence 1.5. Executive function: 1.5.1. Paired Associate Learning task 1.5.2. Spatial Working Memory 1.5.3. Digit span 1.5.4. Grammatical reasoning 2. Participants over 60 years old: 2.1. Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT - recognition subscale) 2.2. Self-reported assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) from the Minimum Data-set Home Care scale	—

Measure

Time frame

1. All participants: Cognitive test battery including: 1.1. Memory 1.2. Working memory 1.3. Speed 1.4. Fluid intelligence 1.5. Executive function: 1.5.1. Paired Associate Learning task 1.5.2. Spatial Working Memory 1.5.3. Digit span 1.5.4. Grammatical reasoning 2. Participants over 60 years old: 2.1. Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT - recognition subscale) 2.2. Self-reported assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) from the Minimum Data-set Home Care scale

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026