As well as the ruler test, reaction times can be assessed through simple computer games such as the Human Benchmark Reaction Time Test which involves waiting for a red box to turn green and then clicking on it as quickly as possible. Sharp deteriorations in performance over time can reflect a combination of sensory systems breaking down, as well as a slowing of the brain’s decision-making. One study last year found that loss of visual sensitivity in seeing and responding to patterns can be one of the earliest signs of dementia, beginning more than a decade before symptoms begin.
“With age, the nerve fibres in the brain’s white matter can start to communicate signals less efficiently, resulting in slower information processing,” says Cox. “Once the decision has been made to react, the nerves that connect your brain to your muscles also need to be in good condition to transmit that message quickly, and these age too.”
Improving your score
But there are things that we can all do to either slow or prevent this decline from happening. Pain recommends so-called dual task training, which involves simultaneous movement and cognitive training activities to tune both the brain and body. Examples include walking while turning your head from side to side, balancing on one leg while reciting the alphabet, or tossing a ball while verbally associating words.
Even things like such as participating in fitness classes via a TV screen or tablet can help with your reaction times. “This improves the ability to perceive [a stimulus] and respond with meaningful coordinated motions,” says Pain.
Cox says that many of the activities which are often linked with healthy ageing, such as continuing to play a sport into later life, learning a musical instrument in retirement or simply keeping engaged with intellectual pursuits such as board games can have knock-on benefits for our reaction times.
“Sports performance drills which require fast responses could boost reaction times by enhancing both brain and body,” says Cox. “And there’s some evidence that generally keeping more socio-intellectually engaged is related to slower cognitive ageing across aspects of complex thinking.”
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