Montreal: A groundbreaking clinical trial led by McGill University has provided the first human evidence that online brain training can enhance the brain’s learning and memory systems — and potentially slow the effects of aging.
The study, published in JMIR Serious Games, found that older adults who trained for 10 weeks using the BrainHQ app — a game-like digital platform — showed marked improvements in cholinergic function, a vital brain chemical system that supports attention, memory, and decision-making.
“This is the first time any intervention, drug or non-drug, has been shown to restore cholinergic health in humans,” said Dr. Étienne de Villers-Sidani, senior author and Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital).
Stronger Brain, Slower Aging
Cholinergic function typically declines with age, but the study revealed that participants who engaged with BrainHQ experienced a reversal equivalent to turning back the clock by 10 years in brain health.
“The training restored cholinergic health to levels typically seen in someone 10 years younger,” Dr. de Villers-Sidani noted.
Because Alzheimer’s disease is associated with sharp drops in cholinergic activity, these findings may explain earlier evidence suggesting that cognitive training can reduce dementia risk and enhance mental performance.
Digital Intervention, Real-World Benefits
BrainHQ’s speed-based cognitive games are designed to get progressively harder as users improve, a structure backed by hundreds of scientific studies.
“A lot of people assume crossword puzzles or reading are enough to keep the brain sharp. But not all activities truly promote neuroplasticity,” Dr. de Villers-Sidani said.
Since BrainHQ is already commercially available, the researchers suggest clinicians can safely recommend it to patients looking to maintain or improve brain health — either as an alternative or complement to medication.
Inside the Study
The trial enrolled 92 healthy adults aged 65 and older, who were randomly assigned to either the BrainHQ training program or an active control group using regular computer games for entertainment.
Participants trained 30 minutes per day for 10 weeks using tablets. Only the BrainHQ group showed measurable increases in cholinergic activity, as revealed by a special PET scan and tracer that allowed scientists to visualize changes in brain chemistry before and after the training.
“We used a rare technology,” said Dr. de Villers-Sidani. “The Neuro is one of the few centres worldwide that can produce the tracer and run the scan.”
Encouraged by the results, the team plans to launch a follow-up study involving people with early-stage dementia to explore whether such brain training can delay disease progression.