Clemson University continues landmark dementia prevention research with NIH award

The Active Mind study aims to reduce dementia risk through brain training

Researchers at Clemson University have received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Aging to continue research in dementia prevention through a clinical research study called Active Mind.

The Active Mind study examines whether computerized brain training can reduce the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, and which computerized training programs may be best. Dementia prevention research takes on increased urgency as no proven treatments exist to cure Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, which affects more than 5 million Americans.

"So many of us have been touched by this disease, and interventions to prevent dementia are urgently needed. I am so proud to bring this work to the Upstate. I am asking for the public's help through volunteering for this study. It is only through the dedication and collaboration with our participants that we are able to fight the battle against Alzheimer's disease and related dementias," said Lesley Ross, Ph.D., professor and SmartLIFE Endowed Chair in Aging and Cognition in the Clemson University Department of Psychology and director of the Clemson Institute for Engaged Aging.

This study builds on research showing that specific computerized brain training may reduce risk of dementia by 29-48% over the span of 10 years. While these results are encouraging, dementia was not clinically diagnosed in the study participants. The Active Mind team hopes to provide stronger evidence that computerized brain training can be used for Alzheimer's prevention.

Active Mind study sites include the University of South Florida, University of Florida, Clemson University, and the University of California San Francisco in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and Posit Science Corporation.

Active Mind participants will be asked to complete in-person study visits for two years and complete at least 40 hours of computerized exercises. Enrolled study participants will receive a free tablet. Those interested in the Active Mind study may participate at the Clemson University site in Seneca.

The Department of Psychology and Institute for Engaged Aging are a part of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in nine disciplines - communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice - to further its mission of "building people and communities" in South Carolina and beyond.

Research described in this announcement will be supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1R01AG075014-01A1. This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.