5. Online Brain Training: Crossword, jigsaw puzzles and board games, as noted above, can be of significant value in maintaining a healthy brain and memory. However, computers and cell phones take these to an entirely new level, as there is now a good variety of very sophisticated computer based brain training programs. The question however was, do they really help to bring about lasting improvements in activities of daily living?
Initially there was a good deal of controversy and conflicting findings in related empirical studies, but there is now good evidence confirming the fact that at least several different brain training programs are effective and can facilitate lasting improvements. For a good review of this controversy and the evidence for the efficacy of these programs see Brain Games do they make a difference at www.4abettermemory.com
The top 3 in this category are BrainHQ, Cognifit, and Lumosity. Each program has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but all of these have been shown to help facilitate improvements in functional abilities. In one study just 3 months of use, with this game effected improvements in cognition that provided an advantage over placebo for several years. That would likely be true for all 4 of these brain training program, although their cost varies, somewhat. But none are expensive.
6. Gaming or other Hobbies
If you would like something that’s somewhat more entertaining, challenging or adventuresome, or you want to learn how to impress your grandkids consider internet based gaming programs. See this insightful article by Teresa Greenhill, written especially for this website.
However, even if you are not interested in playing games on your computer, as noted above, it’s still a good idea to at least learn how to use the internet to learn new things, and keep your brain fresh. You might even try one of the new AI apps or internet programs like Copilot on Bing. All you have to do is type in a question and hit enter for some of the latest greatest info available on almost any topic. That too can be lots of fun for your brain, exploring this amazing world of knowledge.
