Gaming Your Aging Brain

As we get older, we need to keep our brains in shape just as we do our bodies – our minds require proper stimulation for functionality. Thanks to technology, numerous brain-training games and puzzle applications offer engaging ways to keep our minds sharp.

Much research is focused on changes in cognition as we age.  (A 2022 study from the Centers for Disease Control reported that four percent of adults aged 65 and older were diagnosed with dementia.)  That’s why we should prioritize cognitive wellness as much as physical fitness is for healthy aging.

The Benefits of Puzzles and Games

Research indicates that regular use of technology-driven cognitive tools provides many benefits.  Besides reducing social isolation,  tech puzzles and apps can help improve memory retention and problem-solving skills, and boost attention spans.  It all adds up to reducing cognitive decline – right at your fingertips!

More than Fun and Games

One of the most compelling aspects of brain-training apps is gamification, which works through fun, competition, and motivation:

• Leaderboards and Rewards: Users can track their progress and compete with others, making learning more engaging.
• Daily Challenges: Many games feature virtual hooks that remind users of contests and virtual rewards that influence the frequency of use, which is vital for cognitive development.
• Social Features: Multiplayer games and collaborative puzzles add a social dimension that further enriches mental engagement. Connecting with other players brings conversation, competition, and new friends.

Brain Training Apps

Want to get on the brain train?  There are several options available for those who want to focus on apps for games specifically to spark cognitive ability and boost memory.  Here are just a few:

• Lumosity ($11.99/Month) is a popular app that offers entertaining puzzles and games that boost memory, focus, and problem-solving abilities.
• NeuroTracker ($40/Month) is an innovative “brain-training tool” developed by neuroscientists to improve attention, productivity, focus, and decision-making. The program boasts over 120 peer-reviewed research papers.
• BrainHQ ($13.99/Month) specializes in helping older adults and patients in rehabilitation with a mental exercise platform targeted to improve memory, speed, and neuroplasticity.
• Elevate App (Free or $9.99/Month) has over 40 games designed to provide personalized brain exercises to improve productivity, writing, math, and reading skills.

 Puzzle and Logic Games

• Sudoku.com  (Free or $9.99/One-time price). It is a digital version of the classic number-placement puzzle game that actively engages cognitive functions like logic, pattern recognition, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
• Senior Planet Crossword (Free) is published monthly with a new theme designed by respected crossword creator Adrienne Raphel.
• Chess.com ($4.00 – $16.00/Month) helps improve strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. You don’t have to be a chess Grandmaster to benefit from the “Game of Kings.” Playing chess engages both the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
• Flow Free ($4.99 to remove ads) is a simple yet challenging game that enhances logical thinking and pattern recognition. It has over 100 million downloads! Connect matching colors with a pipe and create a “flow.”

Lifelong Learning Apps

Stretching your brain by learning something new is another way to keep your grey cells exercised.  There are literally thousands of online learning opportunities.

• Duolingo (Free or $12.99/Month) offers over 40 languages and more than 800 million downloads, Duolingo simplifies learning a foreign language through short daily lessons.
• Udemy (Pay per class, starting at $13.99) has over 250,000 on-demand courses and 73 million students. With Udemy, students learn at their own pace, including business, technology, design, and personal development.
• Senior Planet Online Classes (Free) offers live virtual and on-demand classes in finance, wellness, fitness, computers, and technology. Over 465,000 new and returning older adults participated in Senior Planet’s learning opportunities.

Alongside a healthy lifestyle, older adults can enhance their cognitive wellness and maintain sharper minds by incorporating these engaging activities into their daily routines.

Want to see the latest, greatest, ultimate-est products in tech? Visit the Senior Planet YouTube Channel  and look for our quick takes on cool tech products from CES! Check out our report on Thinkie, a new brain training program! 

YOUR TURN

What do you do to develop brain fitness and keep your mind sharp? Do you have a Senior Planet class or program you find particularly fun and helpful? Let us know in the comments!

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.