Researchers tested whether personalized reminder messages could help older adults stay committed to daily brain-training exercises on computers and tablets. They studied 199 adults aged 62 to 88, giving half of them smart reminders that arrived at times when they were most likely to be available, while the other half received standard reminder messages. The study is examining whether these customized, well-timed reminders help people actually complete their brain-training sessions. If successful, this approach could be used for many health activities beyond brain training, like exercise programs, medication reminders, and nutrition tracking.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether personalized reminder messages delivered at the right time help older adults stick with daily brain-training activities on computers or tablets
  • Who participated: 199 healthy older adults between ages 62 and 88 who live in their own homes and don’t have memory problems. Half received smart reminders, and half received regular reminders.
  • Key finding: This study is still ongoing and will measure whether people who get personalized, well-timed reminders complete more brain-training sessions than those who get standard reminders
  • What it means for you: If the smart reminder system works, it could help you remember to do brain exercises and other health activities more consistently. However, results aren’t available yet, so we’ll need to wait for the final findings to know if it actually helps.

The Research Details

This is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of research studies. Researchers randomly divided 199 older adults into two groups. One group received personalized reminder messages that were sent at times when the system predicted they would be available and ready to train. These messages were also customized based on what might motivate each person. The other group received the same generic reminder message at the same time every day. All participants were asked to do brain-training activities for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for 18 weeks straight. The main thing researchers will measure is how many training sessions each group actually completed.

Many older adults stop doing brain-training programs because they forget or lose motivation. This study tests whether technology can solve that problem by sending reminders at exactly the right moment and with messages tailored to each person. If it works, this approach could help millions of older adults maintain their brain health. The study design is strong because randomly assigning people to groups helps ensure fair comparisons between the smart reminder system and regular reminders.

This is a well-designed study because it uses random assignment, which reduces bias. The study includes a control group for fair comparison. However, this is a protocol paper describing the study plan rather than final results, so we don’t yet know if the system actually works. The study involves a reasonable number of participants (199) and a long enough time period (18 weeks) to see real effects. The research was published in a reputable journal focused on clinical trials.

What the Results Show

This paper describes the study plan and baseline information about participants, not the actual results. Researchers have not yet completed the 18-week training period or analyzed whether the smart reminder system helped people stick with brain training better than regular reminders. The study enrolled 199 cognitively normal older adults aged 62 to 88 from the community. Both groups started with similar characteristics, which is important for a fair comparison. The main outcome being measured is adherence rate—basically, how many training sessions each person actually completed out of the ones they were supposed to do.

While final results aren’t available, the researchers plan to examine other important outcomes beyond just showing up for training. These may include how much people’s brain function actually improves, whether they stick with the program longer, and how satisfied they are with the reminder system. The study will also provide information about whether this smart reminder approach could work for other health activities like exercise, taking medications, eating better, and staying connected with others.

Previous research shows that people often stop doing brain-training programs because they forget or lose interest. Studies on reminder systems for other health activities (like taking medications) suggest that personalized, well-timed reminders work better than generic ones. This study builds on that evidence by testing whether the same approach helps with brain training specifically. If successful, it would confirm that smart, customized reminders are a practical way to help people stick with health programs.

This paper only describes the study plan, not the results, so we can’t yet know if the system actually works. The study includes only older adults who are cognitively normal, so results may not apply to people with memory problems or younger people. The study is relatively short (18 weeks), so we don’t know if benefits last longer. The research focuses on brain training specifically, so results may not automatically apply to other health activities, even though researchers hope they will.

The Bottom Line

Wait for the final results of this study before making decisions based on these findings. This paper is a study plan, not completed research. Once results are available, personalized reminder systems may become a helpful tool for staying consistent with brain training and other health activities. If you’re interested in brain training, discuss it with your doctor to see if it’s appropriate for you.

This research is most relevant to older adults interested in brain-training programs, healthcare providers who recommend these programs, and technology developers creating health apps. It’s also relevant to anyone managing multiple health activities who struggles with remembering to do them. People with serious memory problems should talk to their doctor before starting brain-training programs.

The study is currently ongoing and won’t have final results for several more months. Once published, it will take time for the findings to be reviewed and for apps to be updated with this technology. If the system works, it could become available in brain-training apps within 6-12 months of publication.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the number of brain-training sessions completed per week and note the time of day when you’re most likely to train. Compare your consistency before and after receiving personalized reminders.
  • Enable push notifications in your brain-training app and allow it to learn your daily schedule. The app can then send you reminders at times when you’re most likely to be available and ready to train, rather than at a fixed time that might not work for you.
  • Use your app’s built-in tracking to monitor your weekly completion rate over 4-week periods. Set a goal of completing at least 20 sessions per month (5 per week). Review your progress monthly and adjust reminder times if needed based on when you’re actually most likely to train.

This paper describes a research study plan, not final results. Do not make health decisions based on this information alone. Before starting any brain-training program or cognitive intervention, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have memory concerns, neurological conditions, or take medications that affect cognition. This research is preliminary and results are not yet available. The findings, when published, will apply specifically to cognitively normal older adults and may not apply to everyone. Always discuss new health interventions with your doctor before beginning.