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New BrainHealth Research Demonstrates Accelerated Cognitive Gains in Active Service Members

A soldier walks alone in a mountain forest, carrying a backpack.

Center for BrainHealth

SMART training efficiently improves cognitive gains in active-duty service members with mTBI. As part of its ongoing quest to redefine how people understand and address the brain’s health and performance, Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas collaborated with the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE) team at Camp Pendleton on new research investigating the effects of cognitive rehabilitation protocols on the brain performance of active-duty service members (ADSMs) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Cognitive strength, resilience, agility and focus are essential to military readiness and overall well-being. Results from the randomized clinical trial “Validation of Cognitive Enhancement Techniques for mTBI” were recently published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience and Frontiers in NeurologyThe study included 148 ADSMs who had persistent cognitive complaints related to a past mTBI. Researchers compared the efficacy and efficiency of two cognitive rehabilitation protocols: Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART™) and Study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Effectiveness (SCORE).Over 20 hours, SMART training took a “top-down” approach, teaching and practicing strategies that promote self-agency and flexible thinking and can be applied to all areas of life. SMART brain training is Center for BrainHealth's proprietary methodology, teaching science-backed techniques that prime the brain, calibrate mental energy, reinforce strategic thinking and ignite innovation.Over 60 hours, SCORE took a “bottom-up” approach, training compensatory strategies that address attention, planning and memory. SCORE is an independent research-based cognitive intervention that combines foundational skill training with computer-based Attention Processing Training (APT-3) to support cognitive recovery and improve functional outcomes.Both groups showed comparable, significant improvements in overall cognitive gains. However, SMART training was completed in one-third of the training time, suggesting it may promote faster cognitive gains and be transferable to complex tasks more quickly and a lower cost. “Top-down SMART brain training is about exercising the executive networks, which are essentially the brain’s CEO,” said lead author Erin Venza, MS, CCC-SLP, head of clinical operations at Center for BrainHealth. “Cognitive strategies to think strategically and problem-solve creatively can empower people to thrive in their lives, even when facing ongoing challenges.”Evidence of SMART’s efficiency and efficacy is especially meaningful for active duty and veteran warriors, law enforcement and other first responders. “These findings suggest that SMART brain training can contribute to a faster return to mission readiness, which is critical for our warfighters,” added co-author Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC-SLP, director of programs at Center for BrainHealth. “Like a single-issue pair of boots, we only get one brain – so we need to take the best care of it we can.”Over the past 15 years, Center for BrainHealth has trained more than 6,000 members of the military – active duty, veterans and families – from every branch. This work has informed the further development and testing of SMART protocols. About Center for BrainHealth Center for BrainHealth®, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, is a translational research institute committed to enhancing, preserving, and restoring brain health across the lifespan. Major research areas include the use of functional and structural neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neurobiology supporting cognition and emotion in health and disease. This leading-edge scientific exploration is translated quickly into practical innovations to improve how people think, work and live, empowering people of all ages to unlock their brain potential. Translational innovations leverage 1) the BrainHealth Index, a proprietary measure that uniquely charts one’s upward (or downward) holistic brain health trajectory whatever their starting level; and 2) Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART™) brain training, a strategy-based toolkit developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers and other teams over three decades.

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Erin Venza, MS, CCC-SLP

Head of Clinical Operations

Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC-SLP

Director of Programs

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