Can Brain-Training Reshape the Aging Brain? A Completed Trial

TL;DR: This is a single small trial (93 healthy adults aged 65+) that has completed and posted results. It compared two versions of a computerized brain-training program and measured a brain-imaging marker plus cognitive tests. Results are posted on the registry, but the summary here does not include effect sizes — so no benefit is proven from these facts alone.

What did this cognitive training trial actually test?

The study evaluated cognitive training — structured, computer-based mental exercises designed to challenge attention, processing speed and memory. The specific program, called INHANCE, uses a "neuroplasticity-based" approach, meaning it aims to engage the brain's ability to adapt and rewire its connections in response to repeated, progressively harder practice.

The trial was run by Posit Science Corporation as an interventional validation study. It enrolled 93 healthy volunteers aged 65 and older (all sexes), with the goal of seeing whether the training could influence markers of neurological and neuropsychological health in later life. Note the phase is listed as "N/A," and 93 participants is a modest sample — findings from a study this size are exploratory, not definitive.

How was the effect on the brain measured?

The primary outcome was a change in a brain-imaging measurement rather than a symptom or diagnosis. Researchers used PET (positron emission tomography) scans with a tracer called FEOBV to estimate cholinergic activity — a marker linked to the brain's acetylcholine system, which supports attention and memory. Specifically, they measured the FEOBV SUVR (standardized uptake value ratio) in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in attention and executive control, before and 3 months after the intervention.

Alongside the brain scan, the trial tracked three cognitive test scores:

• EXAMINER Executive Composite — a measure of executive function (planning, self-control, mental flexibility).
• Useful Field of View (UFOV) — a measure of visual processing speed and attention.
• TAPAT — a test of tonic and phasic alertness (sustained and moment-to-moment attention).

What do the posted results show?

The results are posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, comparing an experimental "Speeded Training" arm against an active comparator "Non-Speeded Training" arm. The registry lists the outcome measures that were reported — the FEOBV PET marker plus the three cognitive scores above — but the summary available here does not include the numerical effect sizes or a statistical verdict. In plain terms: we know what was measured and that data were collected in both groups, but not, from these facts, whether one version outperformed the other. Anyone interested should read the full posted results directly.

Frequently asked questions