Brain Training Apps
10-15 minutes a day. Real research backs some of these.
Honest take
Brain games make you better at the games. Whether they prevent dementia is debated. What\'s NOT debated:
- Physical exercise is the #1 dementia-prevention activity, full stop.
- Social engagement (talking to people) is #2.
- Sleep matters more than puzzles.
- Learning something genuinely new (a language, an instrument) outperforms apps.
That said — brain games are fun, low-stakes, and probably help. Pick what you enjoy.
NYT Games (Connections, Spelling Bee, Crossword)
$5/mo or free with subscriptionBest brain games on the planet. Real, witty, hand-crafted by humans. Plays in 5-15 minutes.
Wordle is free.
Lumosity
$12/mo or $60/year, free trialMost famous brain app. Big variety of games for memory, attention, problem-solving.
Studies show it helps short-term scores; transfer to real life is debated.
BrainHQ (Posit Science)
$14/mo or $96/yearBacked by the most clinical research. Designed by neuroscientists. Used in real Alzheimer-prevention studies.
Free trial. Worth it if you take cognitive health seriously.
Elevate
Free with limits, $5-12/mo ProReading, writing, math, vocabulary. More like a personal tutor than puzzle games.
Strong free tier.
Wordscapes / Wordle / Words With Friends
FreeWord puzzles. Light cognitive workout.
Free, fun, social options.
Apple News+ Puzzles
Free with News+ subscriptionCrossword, Sudoku, mini-crossword built into Apple News.
Bonus if you already pay for News+.
Free options that work great
- Wordle — free at nytimes.com.
- Connections — free at nytimes.com.
- Sudoku.com — free, ad-supported.
- Chess.com — free games against the computer or real opponents.
- Words With Friends — free, social.
- Library Hoopla — borrow brain-training audiobooks free.
Things that beat any app
- Daily 30-minute walk.
- Phone call with a friend.
- Cooking from a new recipe.
- Learning a language with Duolingo (free, fun).
- Volunteering or working part-time.
- Joining a book club.
- Picking up an instrument again.