Unlocking Cognitive Potential: How Working Memory Training Impacts Reading Skills in Aging Adults

Abstract Working memory is crucial for maintaining independence in daily activities, especially as we age. Cognitive programs aim to enhance cognitive performance to support independent living, but the transfer of improvements from these exercises to daily activities remains unclear. This study uses reading comprehension, a complex activity involving information storage and processing, as a proxy for everyday functions. I examine the relationship between visuo-spatial working memory and reading comprehension, and whether training-related improvements in working memory capacity translate to reading performance. In a sample of 175 individuals undergoing a 5-day cognitive training program, I found that the extent to which improvements in working memory transfer to reading comprehension may differ descriptively across age groups, with preliminary evidence of a modest relationship in younger adults but not in older adults. Thus, standard training programs may not lead to noticeable improvements in real-life tasks, indicating the need for more ecologically valid measures. This knowledge can help in designing better and more effective training programs to counteract cognitive decline.