A diet rich in polyphenols — plant-based compounds found in foods like nuts and berries — and online speed-of-processing cognitive training could improve cognition among adults with 12 or fewer years of education. That’s according to a new study published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association and conducted by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Eskenazi Health and Regenstrief Institute.
The study, also known as the MINDSpeed trial, recruited 180 participants 60 years of age and older in Marion County, IN. Each participant had 12 or fewer years of education, a demographic with a heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Recipients received a combination of home-delivered snacks and online games using a study-provided tablet and custom app to play.
Participants were sorted into four groups: having polyphenol-rich snacks and cognitive training; having polyphenol-rich snacks and control games; having control snacks and cognitive training; and having control snacks and control games. Cognitive assessments were conducted at three months and 6 months.
Participants across all groups experienced modest improvements in cognition, with score improvements ranging from 0.15 to 0.35. There was no single intervention that outperformed the others, but the results demonstrated that adults with limited education, who are often underrepresented in dementia research, can benefit from preventive strategies. Researchers noted that longer and more intensive interventions may be needed to detect stronger effects and a longer follow-up may be helpful.
“Adults with fewer years of education face disproportionately higher risks for dementia but are often left out of prevention research,” Regenstrief and IU School of Medicine’s Daniel O. Clark, PhD, lead author, said. “This study shows that not only can they be successfully recruited and retained, but they may also experience cognitive gains.”
Briana Sprague, PhD, study co-author, a Regenstrief research scientist and an assistant professor with the IU School of Medicine added, “We found that once participants were involved in the trial, they were engaged and interested. It is feasible to deliver cognitive training and brain healthy snacks to older adults in the community, even to those who are often underserved.”