Results in Studies of Clinical Conditions

Several pilot studies have examined our programs’ effects on people suffering from a clinical condition, including mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, chemobrain, schizophrenia, depression, HIV, and Lyme disease. Read about those studies below.

Mild Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive symptoms: difficulty with memory, including trouble remembering names, misplacing items, forgetting details of conversations, etc.

Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University, and the University of California at Davis (UCD) have completed a pilot study investigating the effects of Posit Science training on people with MCI. Preliminary results show strong trend data that indicate significant cognitive improvements. Imaging studies of these patients show they maintain these improvements, while those not using the Posit Science training continue the expected decline. These encouraging results highlight the potential of the Brain Fitness Program for MCI treatment, and confirm that larger trials are merited.
View poster on cognitive improvements
View poster on imaging studies

Alzheimer's Disease
Cognitive symptoms: memory loss, difficulty with communication, problems performing familiar tasks, disorientation, changes in personality, etc.

Preliminary results from a study conducted by scientists at Yale University show patients with early to moderate Alzheimer's disease who use Posit Science training trend toward better performance on cognitive tests and report improvement in symptoms related to depression. View poster

Another study on the effects of Posit Science training on early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is nearing completion at UCSF. We will share results when they become available.

Chemobrain
Cognitive symptoms: difficulty with memory and concentration, an inability to formulate words and thoughts, problems with multi-tasking, etc.
Preliminary phase one results of a pilot trial studying the effects of Posit Science training on breast cancer survivors suffering from chemobrain are complete. Initial findings are very promising: 94 percent of study participants self-reported a positive change in their overall sense of well-being as well as other significant improvements in their quality of life. View poster

Schizophrenia
Cognitive symptoms: difficulty with memory, concentration, task completion, disorganized thoughts, etc.
Researchers at Yale University and the San Francisco Veterans’ Medical Administration Center have independently studied the effects of Posit Science training on people with schizophrenia. Both studies found that Posit Science training significantly improves cognitive function in people with schizophrenia. View the UCSF poster

HIV
Cognitive symptoms: difficulties with memory, concentration problems, problems with language, etc.

Posit Science has completed a small case study that found an individual with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (HIV-associated NCI) improved at speed of processing and auditory word memory tasks after Posit Science training. These promising initial results show the need for a larger, randomized control trial to evaluate the usefulness of Posit Science programs in treating this condition.

Lyme Disease
Cognitive symptoms: difficulty with memory, trouble formulating words and thoughts, problems with concentration.
Posit Science has completed a small initial case study that demonstrated Posit Science training was effective in improving cognitive function in an individual who suffers from cognitive impairment related to Lyme disease. These results indicate the need for a larger, randomized control trial to further evaluate the benefits of the Posit Science programs for treating cognitive effects of Lyme disease. View poster

If you’d like information on the studies that came to these results, view our source list.