| You probably have been reading much about | | | | have launched computerized "brain fitness |
| "brain training" and "brain fitness" and wondered, | | | | centers." Sales to the healthcare and insurance |
| "What is all the Fuss About?" | | | | provider segment grew from $35 million in 2005 |
| After many months of work (and we hope many | | | | to an estimated $65 million in 2007. |
| new neurons and stronger synapses in our brains), | | | | 6) More than five programs have shown results in |
| we have just released our inaugural report on the | | | | randomized controlled trials. Cognitive functions |
| emerging Brain Fitness Software Market, and we | | | | that can be trained include: visual and auditory |
| want to share a few of the key findings with you. | | | | processing, working memory, attention, and |
| In summary, the whole category is growing. We | | | | decision-making. |
| estimate the size of the US brain fitness | | | | 7) A product has obtained 510(k) FDA clearance |
| software market at $225M in2007, up from | | | | for rehabilitation of stroke and Traumatic Brain |
| $100m in 2005 (50% CAGR). The two segments | | | | Injury patients. Another product is being used by |
| that fueled the market growth: consumers (grew | | | | a growing network of ADHD specialists. |
| from $5m to $80m, 300% CAGR) and healthcare | | | | 8) Large-scale, fully-automated cognitive |
| & insurance providers (grew from $36m to | | | | assessments are being used in a growing number |
| $65m, 35% CAGR). | | | | of clinical trials. This opens the way for the |
| Ten Findings from The State of the Brain Fitness | | | | development of inexpensive consumer-facing, |
| Software Market 2008 report include: | | | | baseline cognitive assessments. |
| 1) 2007 was a seminal year for the US Brain | | | | 9) The potential for K12 Education remains largely |
| Fitness software market, which reached $225 | | | | untapped due to limited research linking cognitive |
| million in revenues - up from an estimated $100 | | | | training to academic performance. |
| million in 2005. | | | | 10) Companies, sports teams and the military are |
| 2) Over 20 companies are offering tools to | | | | finding opportunities to improve productivity. The |
| assess and train cognitive skills to four customer | | | | aging workforce will make this a must. |
| segments: consumers; healthcare and insurance | | | | There are over 20 public and private companies |
| providers; K12 school systems; and Fortune 1000 | | | | offering tools to assess and train brain functions, |
| companies, the military, and sports teams. | | | | with major implications for healthy aging and a |
| 3) The Nintendo Brain Age phenomenon has | | | | number of disorders such as attention deficits, |
| driven much of the growth. The consumer | | | | dyslexia, stroke and traumatic brain injury, |
| segment grew from a few million in 2005 to an | | | | schizophrenia, autism, mild cognitive impairment, |
| estimated $80 million in 2007. | | | | and Alzheimer's disease. |
| 4) There is major confusion in the market, so | | | | Now you know. Not everything that bills itself as |
| education will be key. Users and buyers need help | | | | "brain training" really is. But there is more than |
| to navigate the maze of products and claims. | | | | may meet the eye. |
| 5) Over 400 residential facilities for older adults | | | | |