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Effects of Computerized Cognitive Training on Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Levels using [18F]Fluoroethoxybenzovesamicol Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Older Adults: Results from the Improving Neurological Health in Aging via Neuroplasticity-based Computerized Exercise (INHANCE) Randomized Clinical Trial
Mouna Attarha, Ana de Figueiredo Pelegrino, Lydia Ouellet, Paule‐Joanne Toussaint, Sarah-Jane Grant, Thomas Van Vleet, Etienne de Villers‐Sidani. JMIR Serious Games, 2025-10-13
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Results Among the 92 participants in the ITT population (mean age 71.9 years; mean education 16.5 years; 61/92, 66%, women; 88/92, 96%, White), 82 (89%) completed all study activities. The speed-based intervention showed a significant within-group increase in FEOBV binding in the primary region of interest, the anterior cingulate cortex (SUVR change mean +0.044, 95% CI 0.006-0.082, P=.03, medium effect size, ω²=0.09). The p24c subregion demonstrated a significant between-groups effect favoring speed training (speeded vs nonspeeded SUVR change difference +0.058, 95% CI 0.007-0.110, P=.03, small effect size, ω²=0.05). Prespecified exploratory analyses revealed significant within-group effects for speed training in the hippocampus (P=.02) and parahippocampal gyrus (P=.04). These findings clarify the neurochemical basis of cognitive training benefits, showing that speed training upregulates binding in networks that support attention, memory, and executive function.
Key findings
- Results Among the 92 participants in the ITT population (mean age 71.9 years; mean education 16.5 years; 61/92, 66%, women; 88/92, 96%, White), 82 (89%) completed all study activities.
- The speed-based intervention showed a significant within-group increase in FEOBV binding in the primary region of interest, the anterior cingulate cortex (SUVR change mean +0.044, 95% CI 0.006-0.082, P=.03, medium effect size, ω²=0.09).
- The p24c subregion demonstrated a significant between-groups effect favoring speed training (speeded vs nonspeeded SUVR change difference +0.058, 95% CI 0.007-0.110, P=.03, small effect size, ω²=0.05).
- Prespecified exploratory analyses revealed significant within-group effects for speed training in the hippocampus (P=.02) and parahippocampal gyrus (P=.04).
- These findings clarify the neurochemical basis of cognitive training benefits, showing that speed training upregulates binding in networks that support attention, memory, and executive function.
Why it matters
In this randomized trial of healthy older adults, speed-based cognitive training increased a marker of acetylcholine transporter binding in brain regions supporting attention, memory, and executive function. It was conducted in healthy older adults and does not show that this training prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants92
- Effect size2.5%; 2.3%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR Serious Games) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Serious Games: journal h-index 68 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 92 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Etienne de Villers‐Sidani: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | McGill University: institution h-index 1,373 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41084791) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Attarha, M., Pelegrino, A. d. F., Ouellet, L., Toussaint, P., Grant, S.-J., Van Vleet, T., et al. (2025). Effects of Computerized Cognitive Training on Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Levels using [18F]Fluoroethoxybenzovesamicol Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Older Adults: Results from the Improving Neurological Health in Aging via Neuroplasticity-based Computerized Exercise (INHANCE) Randomized Clinical Trial. JMIR Serious Games. https://doi.org/10.2196/75161
Vancouver
Attarha M, Pelegrino AdF, Ouellet L, Toussaint P, Grant S.-J, Van Vleet T, et al. Effects of Computerized Cognitive Training on Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Levels using [18F]Fluoroethoxybenzovesamicol Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Older Adults: Results from the Improving Neurological Health in Aging via Neuroplasticity-based Computerized Exercise (INHANCE) Randomized Clinical Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2025. doi:10.2196/75161. PMID: 41084791.
BibTeX
@article{attarha2025-41084791,
author = {Attarha, Mouna and Pelegrino, Ana de Figueiredo and Ouellet, Lydia and Toussaint, Paule‐Joanne and Grant, Sarah-Jane and Van Vleet, Thomas and de Villers‐Sidani, Etienne},
title = {{Effects of Computerized Cognitive Training on Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Levels using [18F]Fluoroethoxybenzovesamicol Positron Emission Tomography in Healthy Older Adults: Results from the Improving Neurological Health in Aging via Neuroplasticity-based Computerized Exercise (INHANCE) Randomized Clinical Trial}},
journal = {JMIR Serious Games},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2196/75161},
pmid = {41084791},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/75161}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.