New Brain Fitness Report Finds Market Growth (18%), Potential, and Confusion
SharpBrains Report Includes Exclusive Survey and 10 Briefs Prepared by Leading Researchers.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 4, 2009
SharpBrains, the brain fitness market authority, announces the release of the second annual comprehensive market analysis of the US market for computerized cognitive assessment and training tools. In this report, The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009, SharpBrains estimates the size of the US brain fitness software market at $265M in 2008, up from $225M in 2007 (18% annual growth), and from $100m in 2005. Two segments fuelled the market growth from 2007 to 2008: consumers (grew from $80m to $95m) and healthcare & insurance providers (grew from $65m to $80m).
The 150-page report, available at www. sharpbrains. com, finds promising research and initiatives to drive significant growth, combined with increased consumer confusion given aggressive marketing claims and lack of education and standards. The report includes:
The complete results of an exclusive January 2009 Survey with 2,000+ respondents A proprietary Market & Research Momentum Matrix to categorize 21 key vendors into four categories 10 Research Executive Briefs written by leading scientists at prominent research labs An analysis of the level of clinical validation per product and cognitive domain
Top 10 Highlights from The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009 report:
1) Consumers, seniors' communities and insurance providers drove year on year sustained growth, from $225m in 2007 to $265m in 2008. Revenues may reach between $1 billion to $5 billion by 2015, depending on how important problems (Public Awareness, Navigating Claims, Research, Health Culture, Lack of Assessment) are addressed.
2) Increased interest and confusion: 61% of respondents Strongly Agree with the statement "Addressing cognitive and brain health should be a healthcare priority." But, 65% Agree/Strongly Agree "I don't really know what to expect from products making brain claims."
3) Investment in R&D seeds future growth: Landmark investments by insurance providers and government-funded research institutes testing new brain fitness applications planted new seeds for future growth.
4) Becoming standard in residential facilities: Over 700 residential facilities - mostly Independent and Assisted Living facilities and CCRCs - have installed computerized cognitive training (http://www. sharpbrains. com/) programs.
5) Customer satisfaction: Consumers seem more satisfied with computer-based products than paper-based options. But, satisfaction differs by product. When asked "I got real value for my money", results were as follows: Lumosity. com (65% Agree), Puzzle Books (60%), Posit Science (52%), Nintendo (51%) agreed. Posit Science (53% Agree) and Lumosity. com (51%) do better than Puzzle Books (39%) and Nintendo (38%) at "I have seen the results I wanted."
6) Assessments: Increasing adoption of computer-based cognitive assessments to baseline and track cognitive functions over time in military, sports, and clinical contexts. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America now advocates for widespread cognitive screenings after 65-75.
7) Specific computerized cognitive training and videogames have been shown to improve brain functions, but the key questions are, "Which ones", and "Who needs what when?"
8) Aggressive marketing claims are creating confusion and skepticism, resulting in a distracting controversy between two misleading extremes: (a) "buying product XYZ can rejuvenate your brain Y years" or (b) "those products don't work; just do one more crossword puzzle." The upcoming book The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness aims to help consumers navigate these claims.
9) Developers can be classified into four groups, based on a proprietary Market and Research Momentum Matrix: SharpBrains finds 4 Leaders, 8 High Potentials, 3 Crosswords 2.0, and 6 Wait & See companies.
10) Increased differentiation: Leading companies are better defining their value proposition and distribution channels to reach specific segments such as retirement communities, schools, or healthcare providers.
Leading researchers prepared 10 Research Executive Briefs:
Dr. Joshua Steinerman (Einstein-Montefiore): Neuroprotection via cognitive activities Dr. Jerri Edwards (South Florida): Assessments of driving fitness (http://www. sharpbrains. com/) Dr. Susanne Jaeggi and Dr. Martin Buschkuehl (Bern, Michigan): Working memory training and fuid intelligence Dr. Torkel Klingberg (Karolinska): Working memory training, dopamine, and math Dr. Liz Zelinski (UC Davis): Auditory processing training Dr. David Vance (UAB): Speed-of-processing training Dr. Jerri Edwards (South Florida): Cognitive training for healthy aging Dr. Daphne Bavelier & Dr. Shawn Green (Rochester): Action videogames and attentional skills Dr. Arthur Kramer (Illinois): Strategy videogames and executive functions Dr. Yaakov Stern (Columbia): The cognitive reserve (http://www. sharpbrains. com/) and neuroimaging Dr. David Rabiner (Duke): Objective assessments for ADHD
Table of Contents
Editorial
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Bird's-Eye View of the Growing Field
Chapter 2. Market Survey on Beliefs, Attitudes, Purchase Habits
Chapter 3. The Emerging Competitive Landscape
Chapter 4. The Science for Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health
Chapter 5. Consumers - Adopting Crosswords 2.0?
Chapter 6: Healthcare and Insurance Providers - A Culture of Cognitive Health (http://www. sharpbrains. com/blog/2009/01/02/top-10-brain-fitness-and-cognitive-health-books/)
Chapter 7: K12 School Systems - Ready for Change?
Chapter 8: Military, Sports Teams, Companies - Brain-Performance Link
Chapter 9: Future Directions - Projections and Bottlenecks
About the Report
Pricing & Availability: The State of the Brain Fitness (http://www. sharpbrains. com/blog/) Software Market 2009 report is available immediately at www. sharpbrains. com. The cost is $1,295, with a $325 discount available until 05/18/09.
Companies profiled include: Advanced Brain Technologies, Applied Cognitive Engineering, Brain Center America, Brain Resource, CNS Vital Signs, Cogmed, Cogstate, CogniFit, Cognitive Drug Research, Dakim, Houghton Mifflin, Learning Enhancement Corporation, LearningRx, Lumos Labs, Marbles: The Brain Store, Nintendo, NovaVision, Posit Science, Scientific Brain Training, Scientific Learning, TransAnalytics, vibrantBrains, Vigorous Mind, Vivity Labs.
About SharpBrains
SharpBrains is a market research & advisory firm devoted to helping companies, health providers, investors, policy makers and individuals understand and participate in the
Brain fitness and cognitive health field by covering brain training (http://www. sharpbrains. com/) and assessments. The company was co-founded by executive Alvaro Fernandez, member of the Global Agenda Councils initiative run by the World Economic Forum, and neuroscientist Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, internationally renowned for his clinical work, research, writings and teaching in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Contact
Alvaro Fernandez, 650-248-4237
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