WASHINGTON — The developer of Lumosity “brain training” games will pay $2 million to settle federal allegations that it misled customers about the cognitive benefits of its online apps and programs.

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday the company’s advertisements deceptively suggested that playing the games a few times a week could boost performance at work, in the classroom and even delay serious conditions like dementia. Under the settlement, Lumos Labs must contact its customers and offer them an easy way to cancel their subscriptions.

The San Francisco company aggressively promoted its service through national TV and radio stations such as CNN, Fox News and National Public Radio and through Google ads, the FTC said.

“Lumosity preyed on consumers’ fears about age-related cognitive decline, suggesting their games could stave off memory loss, dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jessica Rich, a director in FTC’s consumer protection unit. “But Lumosity simply did not have the science to back up its ads.”

Customers pay from $15 for a monthly subscription to as much as $300 for a lifetime membership to Lumosity’s online and mobile apps.

An FTC spokesman said Tuesday’s action is the first government settlement with a maker of apps intended to boost brain health.

Lumosity is one of the most visible companies in the burgeoning brain training industry, which has estimated sales of over $1 billion per year, according to trade publications.

Under federal law, only products reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration can claim to treat or prevent serious diseases or conditions. To date, the FDA has not approved any brain training programs.

In 2014, more than 70 prominent neurology and psychology researchers published a consensus statement critical of the brain training industry, citing its “frequently exaggerated” marketing.


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