"While some studies show that brain training games are not effective, the recollection and work that the brain does during these games keeps your mind fresh and alert," Avena said, adding that while anybody can benefit from them, they're most beneficial for older adults due to their declining cognitive function. Regardless, many experts recommend brain games. (Curious and want to participate? Join their Brain Game study.) "If you think about diet and exercise routines, some things work better for some people than others, and the same is true with brain games." That's why the Brain Game Center is enrolling 30,000 individuals to find out if brain games work, as well as why they work and for whom they're best suited. "We suspect that different people will need different types of training," Seitz continued. One factor that can diminish the efficacy of these games is individual differences among us. "Because the training methods in all of this research are different, it's hard to draw conclusions," Seitz said. So far, studies have been mixed, with half finding positive results, the other half finding none. The real question, though, is whether playing these games are just making us better at the specific game or actually helping us improve real-world tasks that involve memory, attention, and other aspects of higher cognition. According to Seitz, there's no question that people do get better at these games. To provide cognitive activity, we've turned to brain games, ranging from apps to physical board games and puzzles. "While genetics and other factors play a role, one component of why some remain cognitively fit for longer may be the activity their brain has engaged in," Seitz explained.ĭo brain games and apps have benefits? The jury's still out. Of course, not everybody's brain changes the same way, at the same time, or at the same pace which is why you see wide variability in mental fitness among older adults. "Almost every aspect of your ability to remember, tend to things, and process information quickly declines," Seitz said. Surprisingly, these changes start as early as your 20s. She says natural signs of mental aging can often include weaker memory or hand-eye coordination compared to when you were younger. 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. "As you age, your cognitive skills tend to decline," said Nicole M. Read what psychologists and neuroscientists say about brain games, and their preferred ways to keep your brain fit on the daily.Įverybody jokes about not being able to remember names as they get older, or forgetting where they put the car keys, but unfortunately, there's truth behind the teasing. (Just type "brain games" or "memory games" into your app store and you'll see hundreds of options.) Yet research isn't clear about which brain games work best (and for whom), if they make a substantial impact, or if they work at all. There's been an explosion of these games on the market recently. "Studies show that staying mentally fit is important for long-term cognitive health, but the difficulty is figuring out exactly how best to do it," said Aaron Seitz, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the Brain Game Center at the University of California in Riverside.Įnter: brain games. That is: If you don't use it, you'll lose it. Experts say it's never too early-or late-to start a brain fitness regimen to stay sharp into old age.īrain health should be on everybody's radar because, while your brain is technically an organ, it's similar to the other muscles in your body. While improving physical fitness helps your brain, so too does improving mental fitness. You keep your body fit with physical activity, but don't forget about your brain.
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