Long-Term Effects of the Multicomponent Program BrainProtect® on Cognitive Function: One-Year Follow-Up in Healthy Adults

Background: Age-related neuronal changes impact cognitive integrity, which is a major contributor to health and quality of life. The best strategy to prevent cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease is still debated. Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of the eight-week multicomponent training program BrainProtect ® on cognitive abilities compared to general health counseling (GHC) in cognitively healthy adults in Germany. Methods: Healthy adults (age ≥50 years) previously randomized to either GHC ( n = 72) or BrainProtect (intervention group, IG, n = 60) for eight-weeks (once weekly, 90 minutes, group-based) underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluation 3- and 12-months after intervention end. Results: Dropout rates were n = 8 after 3 months and n = 19 after 12 months. No significant long-term effect of BrainProtect was observed for the primary endpoint Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD-Plus) total score. Logical reasoning was significantly improved ( p = 0.024) 12 months after completion of the training program in IG participants compared to the GHC group independent of sex, age, education, diet, and physical activity. In IG participants, thinking flexibility ( p = 0.019) and confrontational naming ( p = 0.010) were improved 3 months after completing the intervention compared to the GHC group, however, after conservative Bonferroni adjustment, significance was lost. Conclusions: BrainProtect ® independently improved logical reasoning compared to GHC up to 12 months after cognitive training’s end in healthy adults. To uncover the long-term clinical significance of multicomponent cognitive training in healthy adults, studies with larger sample size and frequent follow up visits are necessary.