We often hear people say they were told to do brain games, but left unsure what that really means, how it helps, or whether it will make a difference. I want to pull back the curtain: explain, in plain terms, what brain games do, how they fit into whole-person brain health, and what science says about how they may lower the risk of memory problems, slow decline, or help protect against some types of dementia when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Think of the brain a bit like a set of muscles. Muscles require regular and targeted movement and weaken when unused. The same concept applies to our cognitive skills. Brain games aim to exercise those specific mental “muscles” or functions and keep them active and flexible as we age. The evidence shows that brain exercises are most potent when they’re part of a larger plan that includes physical activity, good sleep, healthy eating, social connection, and medical care for blood pressure, diabetes, and other risks.
Why brain games and mental exercise matter
Specific cognitive abilities tend to slow down or weaken over the years, especially processing speed and attention, and sometimes memory and executive functions. A study tracking older adults over time found that even among people considered cognitively “normal,” attention, processing speed, and working/executive functions often start to decline in the early 70s.
That’s where brain games and mental stimulation come in. Engaging in mentally stimulating and meaningful activities as you age has been associated with better cognitive functioning. They help activate multiple areas of the brain at once (memory, attention, planning, reasoning). Support daily functioning, memory retention, problem-solving, and mental flexibility. Strengthening existing neural connections may help with neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning or stimulation. Brain imaging studies show that older adults who engage in new cognitive training can increase brain tissue through neuroplasticity.
Combining brain stimulation with other healthy lifestyle habits, such as physical activity, a good diet, social connection, and good sleep, appears especially beneficial and can reduce risk factors for cognitive decline. These mental exercises can help sharpen or maintain skills, particularly if you stay consistent and treat your brain like a muscle that likes variety, challenge, and rest.
What about dementia and memory problems?
Unfortunately, there is no single activity that guarantees prevention for memory problems, but recent expert summaries and research show that cognitive training and cognitive-stimulation programs can help. Brain games can potentially help reduce the risk of decline and slow progression in people with early memory impairment, especially when combined with broader lifestyle and vascular risk management. In other words, brain games are not a miracle cure, but they can be a valuable, evidence-based part of a prevention and protection plan against certain forms of cognitive decline when used consistently and thoughtfully.
Cognitive functions and brain games
Our brain handles many different jobs. The various functions of the brain matter because daily living depends on combinations of them. Remembering a friend’s name, paying attention while driving, organizing a meal plan, recognizing whether you left your keys somewhere, or following a recipe all rely on multiple cognitive functions. Target improving the functions of the brain by considering these games:
Memory
Memory works a lot like a mental toolbox, helping us hold on to information for just a moment or for much longer periods of time. Short-term or working memory is what you use when you’re trying to keep something in your mind just long enough to use it, like repeating a phone number to yourself until you can dial it or remembering what you walked into the kitchen to grab. It’s quick, active, and constantly juggling little bits of information. Long-term memory and delayed recall come into play when you need to store something for later. This includes remembering a friend’s birthday, an appointment next week, or a meaningful conversation you had yesterday. Our memories help anchor us to our own stories.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Face-Name Recall: Gather and look at 3–5 photos of people (family, actors) and write their names on a paper. Wait 10 minutes, then, without looking at the paper, try to recall the names. Add more photos as it gets easier.
- List recall: Read a short grocery list of 5 items once, then try to write them down after 5 minutes on a new piece of paper. Increase the number of items gradually.
- Card matching: Place 12 face-down pairs and flip two at a time to find matches.
Adaptation & tips
Use imagery or a short story to link a name and face (mnemonic strategies). Practice spaced recall (test yourself after 1 hour, then a day). Spaced retrieval improves retention.
Attention & Processing Speed
Attention and processing speed help your brain stay focused and respond quickly to information. It is attention that allows you to concentrate on one task at a time, even when distractions are present. It helps you to follow conversations, complete tasks, and stay engaged in daily activities. Processing speed describes how fast your brain takes in information and responds. It helps your brain react when someone speaks or notice changes while driving. Processing speed also supports moving smoothly from one task to another.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Timed search: Set a 60-second timer and count how many times you can find a target symbol in a busy page (similar to Where’s Waldo).
- DIY Stroop: Write color words in mismatched ink and say the ink color, not the word. Time yourself and record progress.
Adaptation & tips
Start with easy tasks and shorter durations, and gradually increase visual complexity or reduce time to make it harder.
Executive function
Executive function is like the brain’s management system. It helps you develop the skills needed to plan, stay organized, follow through, adjust when things change, and problem-solve. These “boss” skills guide your decisions, keep you on track, and help you manage the many moving parts of daily life.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Trail connect: On a page, draw scattered numbers and letters. Time yourself connecting 1-A-2-B and so on.
- Meal planning puzzle: Plan a week of meals using only a set number of ingredients and within a set time, then check real feasibility.
Adaptation & tips
Make scenarios meaningful (planning real events). Real-life relevance helps engagement and the likelihood of transfer to daily functioning.
Visuospatial Skills
Visuospatial thinking is your brain’s ability to understand shapes, spaces, and how things fit together. It helps you make sense of where you are in relation to other objects and how to move through the world safely and confidently. It’s the skill that allows your brain to “see” patterns, directions, and relationships, even when you’re not consciously thinking about it.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Map task: Use a paper map and plan a route between two places with constraints (shortest route, avoid highways).
- Simple block-building or pattern replication: Use blocks, coins, or household items to copy a shape or pattern you see. Start with easy designs, then slowly try more complex patterns as your skills improve.
Adaptation & tips
Use physical puzzles to benefit motor coordination as well. Virtual-reality spatial tasks are being studied, but at-home puzzles are excellent, low-cost training.
Language & Naming
Language helps you understand the world and share your thoughts with others. It allows you to understand spoken and written words and express yourself clearly. This skill helps you to follow conversations, enjoy reading, explain your needs, and stay socially connected. Naming and word retrieval help you find the correct word when you need it. They allow you to name objects, recognize people, and describe what you would like to say. We all have moments when we can’t remember a word, but strong naming skills support clear communication and confidence in daily conversations.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Category fluency: Set a timer for 60 seconds and name different types of items within a category, such as fruits, then try tools, then well-known cities.
- Crosswords: Start with large-print or beginner crossword puzzles and build up complexity.
Adaptation & tips
If naming becomes more effortful over time, be sure to mention it to your clinician. Difficulties in naming can be an early sign and are easily tracked over time. But frequent, enjoyable word games are a safe, enriching routine for most people.
Abstraction & Reasoning
Abstraction and reasoning help your brain understand patterns, ideas, and possibilities. They allow you to look beyond details and see the bigger picture and are used when solving puzzles or following rules. These skills help you think through what-if situations and recognize relationships. Abstraction and reasoning support logical decisions and flexible thinking. They also help you apply what you learn to everyday problem-solving.
Games
Easy DIY Games
- Pattern sequences: Create or find series and ask what comes next (numbers, shapes, or colors).
Adaptation & tips
For many people, social strategy games (such as playing chess with a friend) provide both cognitive and social benefits, both of which are important for brain health.
Delayed recall & Orientation
Delayed recall and orientation help keep you grounded in daily life. They help you remember information after time has passed and help you stay aware of where you are and what day it is. Orientation includes knowing the date, time, place, and daily schedule. At the same time, delayed recall helps you bring information back to mind later.
Easy DIY Games
- Daily diary recall: Each evening, write three things you did in the morning, then test yourself the next morning (delayed recall).
- Object location practice: Intentionally place keys or glasses in a special spot and recall after 1 hour and 24 hours.
- Orientation quizzes (date/place questions): help exercise your brain by checking awareness of the date, time, place, and daily schedule. You can practice by regularly asking yourself simple questions about where you are and what day it is.
Practical Tips to Make Brain Games Part of Daily Life
Because some brain abilities naturally decline with age (especially attention, processing speed, and executive functions), regular and consistent practice matters. Similar to physical exercise, making brain-stimulating games and activities a regular part of your routine is crucial.
- Choose games you enjoy: the best game is one you look forward to. If you like wordplay, do crosswords or word-search; if you like shapes, do jigsaws or spatial puzzles. Variety keeps it interesting.
- Rotate types of games: don’t do only memory games. Mix in games from multiple functions of the brain throughout the week.
- Make it social: play with friends or family when possible. Social connections can have added benefits beyond the game itself.
- Keep it short and regular: aim for a few times a week, not long marathon sessions that feel like work.
- Combine with healthy habits: a little light exercise, a healthy meal, good rest; they all support brain wellness.
- Aim for 2–4 “sessions” per week, and they can be around 15–30 minutes long.
Your routine could consist of:
- Monday: a short word puzzle and memory list recall.
- Wednesday: a jigsaw puzzle or drawing exercise.
- Friday: a simple logic puzzle or planning exercise.
- Sunday: Mix a crossword with a card game, or memory recall and story writing.
Remember, brain games are considered beneficial and safe, but they are most effective when part of a broader, balanced lifestyle. The idea is to treat brain health like physical exercise: short, manageable sessions that you can keep doing for years, with gradual change and small, steady improvements.