The answer is yes, according to the billion-dollar brain-training industry, but research is mixed. Studies evaluating the benefits of brain games and puzzles on memory suggest there may be some varying benefit according to age and the exercises being used.
Memory matching games that involve strategy, help children to develop their problem-solving skills, memory power, analytical thinking skills, communication skills, general knowledge, concentration level, social skills, and patience.
Jigsaw puzzles are effective brain training games, as they require you to work the left and right sides of the brain at once. They also reinforce the connections between the brain cells, which improves mental speed and improves short-term memory.
Brain games stimulate different cognitive functions, such as executive function and processing speed, in older adults. And they can enhance your life in other ways. “They can help your social life, particularly in group trainings that provide socialization that otherwise you won't have,” says Dr.
People with dementia can reap the memory and concentration benefits of playing games. Try easier puzzle-based options like Tetris. Learning and mastering skills in video games can provide your loved one with feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction.
“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, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But Lumosity simply did not have the science to back up its ads.”
Researching the efficacy of Lumosity
After 10 weeks, Lumosity users improved more than the control group on our assessments of working memory, short term memory, processing speed, problem solving, fluid reasoning, and overall cognitive function.
One likely explanation, many researchers believe, is that intelligence produces a "cognitive reserve" in the brain, helping people cope for longer with brain changes that would normally cause dementia.
Examples of brain-challenging games can include chess, tabletop games, video games, word and number puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku and memory games. For games on your computer, your tablet or your phone, find games where you can play and interact with other people.
Playing games can encourage socialization, improve concentration and increase knowledge. Better yet, it has been shown to pump up your memory, fighting the onset and progression of dementia and even Alzheimer's disease.
Bingo can even be adapted for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. It can help to improve cognition and can help stimulate memory and thought processes for patients in varying stages of memory loss.
Memory games for seniors with dementia have been shown to help seniors exercise their minds, which can boost brain health over time. Memory games can also provide a creative outlet for seniors, helping them strengthen social connections.
In general, high-frequency stimulation is more effective for those with mild dementia than severe cases. In some cases, improvements in cognitive function happen immediately after rTMS. But they can take as long as 6 weeks to appear. These benefits can then last for 3 months or even longer.
Physical activity. Doing regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia. It's good for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing. You might find it difficult to start being more physically active, or worry it means doing an activity you don't enjoy.
Being active, eating a better diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, keeping normal blood pressure, controlling cholesterol and having low blood sugar in middle age may all lower the chances of developing conditions such as Alzheimer's disease later in life, research suggests.
Researchers have suggested that people who have more education or do more mentally stimulating activities throughout life build up a higher cognitive reserve, allowing their brain to resist damage caused by disease like Alzheimer's for longer.
Is good memory an indicator of intelligence? Essentially, yes, but not in the way you may think. Short-term memory storage is linked to greater signs of intelligence as measured in IQ tests. But having perfect recall isn't necessarily correlated with high intelligence.
The risk of developing Alzheimer's or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels. These include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Work with your doctor to monitor your heart health and treat any problems that arise.
Memory and other thinking problems have many possible causes, including depression, an infection, or medication side effects. Sometimes, the problem can be treated, and cognition improves. Other times, the problem is a brain disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease, which cannot be reversed.
What are the foods that fight memory loss? Berries, fish, and leafy green vegetables are 3 of the best foods that fight memory loss. There's a mountain of evidence showing they support and protect brain health.