Research
What the published evidence on Cognitive Function Development Therapy shows so far.
In short
The main published study of CFDT is a 2024 peer-reviewed paper in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. It reviewed real-world data from 183 children and adults and found that, as a group, their scores on five primary cognitive functions rose from before to after treatment.
By the numbers
183
clients in the study
7 to 83
ages of the clients
24
hours (1,440 minutes), the minimum CFDT treatment
5
primary cognitive functions measured
Title
A retrospective, observational study of real-world clinical data from the Cognitive Function Development Therapy program
Journal
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, December 18, 2024
Authors
Eric D. Kirby, Brian Beyst, Jen Beyst, Sonia M. Brodie and Ryan C. N. D’Arcy
Participants
183 clients ages 7 to 83, treated in Arizona between December 2019 and May 2024
Minimum treatment
24 hours (1,440 minutes) of CFDT
Results
The authors call for future randomized controlled studies.
Measurement
Clients take digital cognitive assessments (BrainFX SCREEN or Creyos) before and during CFDT. CFDI maps the results to five primary cognitive functions, and therapists usually target the two lowest:
01
Noticing things in the environment
02
Picking out items from a larger field
03
Directing attention in a busy or cluttered field
04
Holding and using information in the moment
05
Recalling information, such as patterns, later
We’re happy to talk through the study and what it means for your practice.
