Seattle, Washington, July 29, 2009 -- CogniFit, Inc., a leading maker of Brain Fitness Software (www.cognifit.com), announced key findings of a definitive study about the effectiveness of brain training programs. A panel of independent researchers and CogniFit scientists found that elderly subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) were shown to have greater cognitive improvement using CogniFit’s targeted brain training program than MCI patients who used a group of challenging, classic computer games. The results of the study were presented at the International Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Conference in London on July 20th.

Although peoples’ cognitive skills start slowing in their 20s and 30s, it is possible for the brain to generate new brain cells as a result of mental effort. The brain fitness training industry is showing rapid growth following recent scientific discoveries about brain plasticity. Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to create new connections in response to mental stimulation, even among the elderly. While several vendors have developed brain fitness programs to help people improve their memory and other cognitive skills, only CogniFit’s products have personalized training for those skills that are most important and most in need of development. Today, there is a limited but growing body of scientific research about the effectiveness of brain fitness software. This study from CogniFit shows that brain training which is personalized to the needs and skill levels of an individual can offer greater cognitive benefits than challenging, classic computer games.

The study, which was conducted under the guidance of a team of independent experts and scientists, compared the progress of two randomized groups of 65 volunteers. A control group used computer games such as Tetris, Labyrinth and Memory-Pairs. A second group used CogniFit Personal Coach. The volunteers were assigned computerized practice at home, three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes each session over a three-month period. Cognitive abilities were assessed at the beginning of the sessions and at the end of three months. At the end of the three-month period, the volunteers showed some improvement in all cognitive areas. However, people who used CogniFit Personal Coach improved notably in seven scores of abilities and in the overall score, while the group who used generic computer games only showed improvement in two scores of abilities and in the overall score. Correlations among the scores of the eight abilities were found. In eight of the nine comparisons, those using CogniFit Personal Coach showed measurable improvement that was greater than the control group using classic games.

Unlike challenging, classic games, CogniFit Personal Coach tailors cognitive training to meet the specific needs of individuals and adjusts the difficulty of the exercises during training. As a result, people using CogniFit experience mental stimulation that is challenging enough to improve their abilities, but not so challenging that they become frustrated. As their skills improve, the training evolves. CogniFit Personal Coach assesses and trains fourteen of the most important cognitive functions to everyday life, including Focused Attention, Visual Spatial Memory, Mental Flexibility and Executive Functions.

“These results are encouraging,” said Dr. Chava Peretz, one of the independent researchers from the study and a member of the Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University. “This is good news for MCI sufferers. The research shows that personalized brain training can improve their cognitive function.”

About CogniFit

CogniFit brain fitness programs provide an initial baseline assessment of the cognitive abilities that are most affected by aging, before creating personalized training programs. No two training programs are the same. Based on more than 30 years of neuro-scientific research, CogniFit's scientifically validated, patented brain fitness programs are personalized to each user's skills and needs to help enhance their cognitive performance and health.

Shlomo Breznitz, PhD, founded CogniFit in 1999 with the goal of using the latest cognitive research to help people of all ages maintain and improve their quality of life through brain fitness assessment and training. Prof. Breznitz has had a long and distinguished academic career and has been at the forefront of cognitive training using a personal computer. CogniFit offers training programs for a wide range of cognitive skills needed for everyday functioning, as well as cognitive skills needed for specific activities such as driving.

The company also offers its training through selected partners including Aging with Grace, Catalyst Partners and Young Drivers of Canada. To learn more about CogniFit, please call (206) 331-4449, or visit the website at www.cognifit.com.

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Jody Peake, OnPR, o: (503) 802-4400, m: (503) 997-3907, jodyp@onpr.com