Buzz
Just like your body requires exercise, so does your brain. Experts emphasize that it's never too soon—or too late—to begin a cognitive fitness routine that can help you maintain mental sharpness as you age. Brain health is crucial for everyone, because although your brain is an organ, it functions similarly to muscles in your body. Without exercise, it starts to weaken.
"Research indicates that maintaining mental fitness is vital for long-term cognitive health, though the challenge lies in figuring out the best approach," said Aaron Seitz, Ph.D., psychology professor and director of the Brain Game Center at the University of California, Riverside.
Enter the world of brain games. There's been a surge of games and apps that claim to improve and strengthen cognitive abilities. But are they truly effective? Here's what psychologists and neuroscientists say about brain health and the role of brain games.
Cognitive Changes with Aging
It's common to joke about forgetting names or misplacing car keys as we grow older, but sadly, there's some truth behind these jokes. "As we age, our cognitive abilities naturally begin to decline," said Nicole M. Avena, Ph.D., assistant professor of neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University. She explains that typical signs of mental aging may include a decline in memory or hand-eye coordination.
To everyone's surprise, these cognitive changes can begin as early as the 20s. "Almost every aspect of memory, attention, and processing speed tends to diminish over time," Seitz stated.
Naturally, not everyone's brain ages in the same way, nor at the same rate. "While genetics and other factors are influential, one reason some individuals remain cognitively sharp longer may lie in the nature and amount of brain activity they've engaged in," Seitz explains.
Do Brain Games and Apps Provide Real Benefits?
One thing that is clear about brain games, according to Seitz: Whether you opt for an app, a board game, or a puzzle, the longer you engage with it, the more skilled you become. However, the critical question remains whether these enhanced abilities transfer to real-life tasks involving memory, attention, and other higher-level cognitive functions.
So far, research has yielded mixed results, with half of studies showing positive effects and the other half finding no benefit. "Since different studies use varying training methods, it's difficult to draw conclusive results," Seitz explains. Additionally, games that work well for one individual might not have the same impact on another: "Just like with diet and exercise, what works for some may not work for others, and this applies to brain games as well," Seitz adds.
Currently, the Brain Game Center is recruiting 30,000 participants for its fitness program to explore whether brain games are effective, and if so, why they work and who benefits most. (Interested in participating? Join their Brain Game study.)
While the evidence is not definitive, many experts believe brain games offer at least some indirect benefits. "Even though some studies suggest that brain training games don't work, the mental effort and recall involved during these games keep the brain alert and active," Avena explains, particularly benefiting older adults experiencing cognitive decline. She adds that the functions practiced during these games—and the repeated engagement with them—can improve response time and cognitive sharpness.
Games That Can Enhance Your Brain Health
The general agreement seems to be that playing brain games is unlikely to cause harm. So, what should you try out?
Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
These classic puzzles will put your logic, memory, and focus to the test.
BrainHQ
Vernon and her team utilized BrainHQ, an online training platform, in their research. Backed by peer-reviewed studies, it offers various games that assess six different cognitive skill categories.
- Attention (the capacity to concentrate on crucial information)
- Brain speed (how swiftly your brain processes surrounding events)
- Memory exercises (the brain's ability to store and recall information)
- People skills (cognitive abilities in social contexts)
- Intelligence (decision-making capabilities)
- Navigation (mental mapping and spatial orientation skills)
Games that teach new skills.
"If you want to actively enhance brain health, the most reliable advice is to learn something new every day," says Seitz. "The key is the challenge, not just the activity itself." For example, try a game that teaches a new language: The app Duolingo offers lessons in over 43 languages, allowing users to compete with themselves and others. Remember, Seitz adds, being challenged is more critical than the activity itself. How can you tell if you’re being challenged? By making mistakes. "If you're failing, correcting yourself, and improving, then that’s the activity you should be doing for your brain," Seitz concludes.
Whatever you choose, consistent practice is key, advises Vernon: Ten minutes each day is more effective than one long session on the weekend.
What to Do Every Day for Better Brain Health
Above all else, making lifestyle changes that promote cognitive health is crucial. "If you limit your brain health activities to just 10 minutes a day with these games, you're neglecting the other 23 hours and 50 minutes where you could be improving your brain," Vernon explains.
To achieve optimal cognitive fitness, you should cultivate and sustain the same habits that enhance physical health—regular social interaction, adequate sleep, a balanced diet, exercise, and leading a fulfilling life. That’s the real winning formula.
