The Preventing Alzheimer's with Cognitive Training (PACT) study led by researchers at the University of South Florida received an additional $2.8 million from the National Institutes of Health on Mar. 25 to continue its research into whether computerized brain training exercises can delay or prevent cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
This research is significant as dementia affects millions worldwide, with more than 55 million people living with some form of dementia and over 7 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The PACT study aims to address this public health crisis by investigating non-pharmaceutical interventions that could reduce risk factors for cognitive decline in older adults.
Launched in 2020 at USF, PACT has expanded across ten sites in the southeastern United States, including Duke University, Clemson University, and the University of Florida. With more than $50 million in federal grant funding secured so far, it stands as the largest clinical trial of its kind and has enrolled approximately 7,600 participants aged 65 or older from diverse demographic backgrounds.
Jennifer Harris, a researcher at USF's Health Informatics Institute involved in PACT, said: "Cognitive impairment affects so many people either directly or indirectly, so conducting a study looking at the effectiveness of this research can have a positive impact on so many people." She added that enrolling participants from different regions ensures that "the study group represents the larger population of the country."
Participants began with two in-person visits to learn brain training activities before completing about 45 hours of computerized exercises over three years at home. They are now returning for a third visit for final assessment. O'Brien said: "It is a massive undertaking to enroll and keep engaged this many people across time, especially when life happens or things like hurricanes." O'Brien also noted: "Though we don't have results yet, one thing we have learned is how to effectively engage older adults in research and keep them motivated in a study for this length of time."
The PACT trial is expected to conclude by January 2028 with initial results anticipated by fall that year. Looking ahead at potential impacts if benefits are found from brain training interventions O'Brien said: "If we find significant benefit of training to reduce dementia risk, the delay of dementia onset by even one year could result in approximately 9.2 million fewer cases over 30 years." The project is funded by the National Institute on Aging.
