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If your memory has turned to mush and you’re lamenting your lack of brainpower, it may be time for brain games to give that noodle a workout. It’s normal for brain function to decline with age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t strengthen it. Multiple studies suggest that playing brain games helps maintain and even boost cognitive performance, says Marwan Sabbagh, M.D., medical director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of these studies of almost 3,000 people found that just ten 60-minute brain-training sessions over a five-week period successfully slowed their rate of cognitive decline. Another systematic review of over 151 studies found that working memory, processing speed and brain function were all boosted by computerized brain training games, and that older adults don’t need to be technologically savvy in order to play them. There are lots of brain games training apps out there, but any type of activity that stimulates the brain can help, says neuroscientist Jodi Gilman, PhD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. (That’s good news if you’re hopelessly hooked on games like Candy Crush, Tetris or Words with Friends). Related: 7 Mind-Bending Brain Games from Marilyn vos Savant Wondering about which apps to choose? Here are some of the best and brightest to flex your brain muscle while having fun. Most take you through a short baseline quiz to give you a mini-assessment of your brain fitness, and offer free subscriptions for their basic versions. There is a fee to upgrade for more advanced options, like access to more games, coaching and feedback. Many offer discounts for annual and lifetime subscriptions or friends and family plans.  1. Lumosity: Over three billion games have been played by more than 85 million people Created by more than 100 researchers from around the globe and launched in 2007, this was one of the first apps in the brain-training empire. The brain games are colorful and entertaining, with exercises devised to help improve five areas of cognitive function: problem-solving, memory, attention, speed and flexibility. The 411: Available on Android and iOS. A free 10-minute Fit Test sets your baseline scores, shows how you compare with people your age and gives you access to three games per day. Upgrades to a premium plan cost $11.95 monthly or $59.95 per year, with more than 60 training programs, tips for better game accuracy, speed and strategy and additional exercises to help you relax and focus. Train Your Brain Right Now: No Tool Required Word Game 2. Peak: Short, intense workouts plus a virtual coach to track your progress Fun and stimulating mini-games “push you hard with short, intense workouts” with mental gymnastics to help boost memory, problem-solving, concentration, language and more. Utilizing research from scientists from prestigious universities like Cambridge and Yale, Peak was rated by Google in 2016 as one of the best Android apps. The 411: Available on Android and iOS. The basic version is free and includes four randomly assigned brain games you can only play once per day; an upgrade to the Pro version, which offers a more personalized workout and unlimited access to over 40 games plus the ability to compare results with other users, is $4.99 monthly or $34.99 per year. 3. Elevate: iPhone’s best app of the year for 2014 Described by Business Insider as “professional and polished-looking,” Elevate sets you up with daily entertaining-yet-challenging games to help build your communication and analytical abilities. Their mini-games are geared toward strengthening your focus, memory, reading comprehension and other cognitive skills. The 411: Available on Android and iOS. Free version offers daily training sessions with up to five games and a 14-day trial of the more advanced version, Elevate Pro, which costs $4.99 monthly or $39.99 for one year. The upgrade offers more than 35 games and features like a daily reminder to train and an overview of your progress. 4. Cognifit Brain Fitness: Brain games and more What stands out in this app designed by neuroscientists are its specific programs to “stimulate or rehabilitate” brain function in people with conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries and more. If you thrive on social interaction (which also can help keep your brain healthy), you can challenge friends and see how you rank in real-time monitoring. The 411: Available on Android and iOS. The basic plan is free and includes access to three games. Upgrades, which include more than 25 games, start at $12.00 per month and $189.99 annually. Online tests are also available to evaluate cognitive disorders like depression, ADHD/ADD and insomnia and cost $49.99 each. 5. Mensa Brain Training: From the largest and oldest IQ society in the world Perception, recall and logic are all parts of mental acuity, and Mensa-approved exercises help strengthen these and more. The games, which allow you to chart your progress over time, may not admit you to Mensa’s high-IQ society, but you can test your mental savvy in a fun and challenging way. Their tailored training program developed by puzzle experts challenges memory, concentration, agility, perception and reasoning and was rated as the number one entertainment app in 17 countries. The 411: Available on iOS. New users get a free trial 7-day subscription. Once registered, the app measures your Mensa Brain Index (MBI) using exercises to establish your training baseline, and you can redeem your trial to continue using their games. Subscription prices vary. Related: Would You Rather Questions |
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