A report titled ‘Brain Health Primer on India’ has found that approximately one in four participants reported psychological concerns like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild cognitive impairment.
Conducted by a brain health startup called Ivory, the study tested 102 participants in clinical-grade assessments. Over six months, two assessments were conducted to evaluate cognitive health, each with varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity.
The first was a 7-minute mini-assessment using neuroscience-based games to determine a user’s cognitive age. The second was an FDA-registered health and lifestyle assessment, a 35-40 minute evaluation, featuring 17 interactive games designed to analyse cognitive function across five key domains: Attention, Memory, Reasoning, Coordination, and Perception.
**Major findings of the study are:**
1\. 71% of participants had at least one pre-existing clinical risk factor for dementia. Hypertension and diabetes are the most prevalent of these risk factors.
2\. 40% of respondents lived alone; while 50% reported less than adequate cognitive stimulation in their day-to-day living. This is significant as loneliness, isolation and lack of cognitive stimulation are linked to cognitive decline according to multiple studies.
3\. Nutritional deficiency, particularly that of Omega-3 was observed in most participants. This plays an essential role in brain health and longevity.
4\. Participants scored above average on skills linked to ‘Attention and Memory’ when compared to skills linked to ‘Coordination and Perception’.
5\. On the shorter ‘Cognitive Age test’ linked to Concentration, 39% of participants showed deviations in cognitive age, with 32% reflecting a cognitive age older than their actual age. Women scored better on short-term memory, planning and visual short-term memory; while men were better at visual perception, divided attention and updating.
According to the WHO, brain health is the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realise their full potential over the life course. Cognitive health, in particular—the ability to think, learn, and remember—is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life.
Cognitive tests of today allow early detection of at-risk populations. As India’s population ages, such tests will assume a critical role.
Rahul Krishnan, Co-Founder of Ivory, said, “Brain health needs to be prioritised just like physical health. Early detection and proactive care can help individuals maintain cognitive function for longer, ensuring a healthier and more independent life.”