Brain Training Turns Back the Clock for Older Adults

According to a study conducted in 2025, a 10-week online brain training program has helped older adults' brains function as if they were a decade younger. The study involved 92 healthy adults aged 65 and older from Canada. Half of the participants completed daily 30-minute brain training exercises using the BrainHQ app, while the other half played entertainment-focused games.

Specialized brain scans revealed that those who completed the brain training showed stronger activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region crucial for attention, learning, and memory. Researchers describe this change as equivalent to shaving 10 years off the participants' biological age. In contrast, the comparison group did not exhibit the same level of brain activity improvement.

Experts say that just as physical exercise keeps the body in shape, regular mental workouts can help maintain brain health as we age. Cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer's are often linked to reduced activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Strengthening this brain region through training may therefore help delay or reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life.

While the results are promising, the researchers caution that this was a small study and the findings may not apply to people with existing memory problems or other brain training programs. Longer-term studies are needed to determine if these biological changes translate into lasting improvements in cognitive function. Nonetheless, the study suggests that brain training could be a valuable tool in a broader approach to supporting brain health and preventing age-related cognitive decline.