With dementia cases around the world expected to triple by 2050, scientists are scrambling to find solutions which all of us can use to keep our brains functional and healthier for longer.
But what if the solution to delaying the onset of cognitive decline was as simple as playing a game? Puzzles such as sudokus have now been widely shown not to protect against cognitive decline. But new types of brain training games are increasingly being explored by teams of neuroscientists in the UK and around the world.
“There’s reasonable evidence that certain games can improve cognitive skills,” says Perminder Sachdev, professor of neuropsychiatry at UNSW Sydney. “This has been shown particularly for processing speed, attention and task switching.”
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The good news is the games with good evidence are often free to play online. These are the types that are showing the most promise for fighting off cognitive decline.
