The best brain games for seniors

As you age, cognitive decline can become more of a concern. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to help maintain—and even improve—your mental ability and cognitive function.

Enter: Brain games. Some research has indicated that brain games can have a positive impact on cognitive function and overall brain health. So if you’re interested in ways you can keep your mind sharp and active, keep reading to learn why brain games are an effective way to do just that.

What are brain games? Are there fun brain games?

Brain games for seniors have become increasingly popular due to their positive impact on cognitive function.

Generally speaking, cognitive function describes how your brain learns, thinks, remembers, problem-solves, and multitasks. Cognitive training, then, is the processing of exercising your brain with mentally stimulating tasks, like brain games.

Brain games are designed to improve mental agility and challenge your brain in an engaging way to support cognitive function and brain health.

In short, brain games are a tool that older adults can use to help keep their minds sharp. And if you really want to dive into the science of cognitive function and cognitive training, check out this related article.

The benefits of brain games for seniors

There are numerous benefits of brain games for seniors and older adults, which can include improvements to these cognitive functions:

• Memory skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Decision-making abilities
• Hand-eye coordination
• Processing speed
• Multitasking skills
• …and more

Not to mention, playing brain games is fun. Some brain games can provide a sense of social interaction, which is important for your mental and physical health. Plus, one study showed that the enjoyment you get from playing brain games and the satisfaction you feel after succeeding in them can improve your mood and reduce your stress levels, both of which have a positive impact on overall well-being.

Which are the most fun brain games for seniors?

There are many brain training games available for older adults. Classic board games, like chess and checkers, can be effective brain games for seniors. Other popular brain games for seniors include Sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. Even video games can be effective brain exercises, as they require problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. 

The Elevate app is another great resource for brain exercises. It has 40+ brain games to choose from, including memory games, problem-solving challenges, and word games for seniors, like the crowd-favorite Agility game. Watch this 1-minute video to learn more about it:

Elevate has won Apple's App of the Year award and helped more than 50 million people, including older adults, engage in cognitive training and improve their communication, math, and memory skills. And customers can really feel its impact. Here are some customer reviews of Elevate from the App and Play Stores:

• "I've noticed that my short-term memory has improved. …I stopped using it for a few weeks and … I felt like my memory just wasn't as quick. I'm back to using this daily!"
• "The exercises are very good for my brain and mental agility. I recommend it to all my friends."
• "Great way to remind your brain of its capabilities."

Tips for finding and playing fun brain games

Finding brain games for seniors is easy with the help of mobile apps, like Elevate, online games, or local community centers. 

When you’re ready to start playing brain games, it’s important to start with something easy and then gradually increase the difficulty. That will increase your enjoyment and motivation to keep playing instead of creating a frustrating first experience.

Playing with friends or family members can also provide an opportunity for social interaction and make the games more enjoyable. Because who doesn’t like a little friendly competition?

It’s also important to keep in mind that brain games should not be the only strategy used to maintain cognitive function in seniors. A healthy lifestyle—including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep—is also important for maintaining overall brain health, which we’ll dive a little deeper into next. 

Maintaining and improving cognitive function in seniors

In addition to brain games, it's important for seniors to engage in other strategies for maintaining and improving cognitive function. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep can all contribute to better brain health. If you'd like some support getting better sleep, check out the Balance app, which is totally free for your entire first year.

Engaging in social activities, such as volunteering or joining a club, can also help maintain cognitive function in seniors. And learning a new skill or hobby, such as painting or playing an instrument, can provide mental stimulation and improve cognitive function as well.

With any of these strategies, consistency is key. So follow your curiosity and engage in cognitive training that excites you and fits within your schedule.

Start sharpening your mind today with fun brain games

Whether it's a mobile app like Elevate, crossword puzzles, card games, jigsaw puzzles, or all of the above, brain games can improve cognitive function, provide social interaction, sharpen your memory skills, and more. 

Don’t forget: It’s also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which can help you maintain optimal brain health—and, you know, level up in your brain games.

If you’re ready to start improving your cognitive function and mental agility, download the Elevate app on iOS or Android and discover a world of 40+ brain training games, personalized, fun brain training programs, and individual performance tracking. With the Elevate app, you can easily make brain training a part of your daily life and support your overall mental fitness.