11 Brain Games and Other Activities That May Help Boost Memory

Brain health is a vital part of overall well-being as we age. Research suggests the best way to boost memory and reduce dementia risk is through engaging in a variety of activities that nourish and challenge our brains.

There’s evidence that engaging in diverse cognitive tasks — such as playing certain games, reading, or learning new skills — can stimulate neural connections, boost cognitive reserve, and foster neuroplasticity.

How Using Your Brain Builds Cognitive Reserve and Neuroplasticity

“It appears that by cognitively challenging yourself, you can expand your cognitive reserve,” says Shehroo Pudumjee, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to form and modify neural connections. Improving or maintaining neuroplasticity can help in times of injury or disease and in learning and assimilating new information.

Continuing to learn and engage in activities can build on the advantages of neuroplasticity, which keeps the brain healthy and might limit the effects of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, says Dr. Pudumjee.

Why Variety Is Best When It Comes to Exercising Your Brain

There’s probably no single brain exercise or game that, on its own, will prevent you from ever getting dementia, says Justin Miller, PhD, professor of neurology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a neurologist at UW Medicine in Seattle.

“The way that I approach things when I work with patients is to look at the collective influence of all the different things that together can make a positive impact on keeping the brain healthy,” says Dr. Miller.

That means engaging in a variety of different activities to challenge your brain is your best bet for maintaining cognitive function over the long run.

11 Brain Games, Activities, and Exercises to Try

Games and exercises that improve or maintain brain health must continually challenge you, says Jessica Caldwell, PhD, visiting associate professor in the department of neurology at University of Wisconsin in Madison.

In other words, playing the same apps and video games over and over again “on autopilot” is not going to do a whole lot to build cognitive reserve or improve neuroplasticity.

“If you don’t have to think too hard and you are just engaging at a light level, that’s not the level we really need to protect our brains, which is a challenge level,” says Dr. Caldwell.

And be sure to pick activities and hobbies that you like or that truly interest you. “That way, you’re more likely to stick with it,” she says.

Ready to fire up those neurons? Here are 11 games, exercises, and activities that may help to improve and maintain your brain health and memory.

1. Stay Sharp With Speed of Processing Training

The computer-based speed training in the National Institutes of Health–sponsored study focused on visual search and improving both visual processing and attention (especially divided attention), and the difficulty increased based on the individual’s performance. In the exercise, you determine whether an image in the middle of the computer screen is a car or a truck, and at the same time you need to notice where a specific image is located in your peripheral vision — all while the program increases in speed.

2. Language Apps Like Duolingo or Babbel

Learning a new language “checks all the boxes” when it comes to stimulating your brain in all the right ways to keep it healthy.

“When you are learning a new language, you have to be able to pull up information from memory about different vocabulary words, and you have to link things together with how you learned other types of language,” says Caldwell.

That gives you multiple ways to challenge the brain at the same time, she says.

And if you take the next step and begin to meet other people (or even travel internationally) to try out your new language skills, you’re adding socialization to the list of beneficial effects.

“That offers human connection and, potentially, new relationships, which is also good for the brain and overall well-being, says Miller.

3. Chess, Anyone?

If the TV show The Queen’s Gambit made you chess-curious, great news: It’s a solid option for keeping your brain active because the game is complex, so you can’t really just go through the motions while playing, Miller says.

“And although you can play chess on an app or your computer, you can also join a chess group and play against different people, which provides a social element — always a bonus,” says Miller.

4. Release Your Inner Musician

Learning to play an instrument is one of the top recommendations that Caldwell gives her patients.

“It’s typically challenging for most people, and it also involves a number of different cognitive functions all coming together, which might be why it’s so good for the brain. To learn an instrument, you have to look, perceive, remember, and use your hands all at the same time,” she says.

5. Bridge and Other Card Games

Complex card games like bridge are definitely helpful for the brain. They are quite challenging to learn and to play — particularly to play well, says Caldwell.

“Whether it is computerized or live or in person, it can challenge the brain,” she says.

6. Join the Pickleball Craze (or Learn Any New Sport)

“If you are thinking about doing one thing to support your brain health for life, exercise is always a good choice because it has both direct brain impact as well indirect effects that are great for your mood, your heart health, and many other areas of health as well,” says Caldwell.

And if you happen to get really passionate (or slightly obsessed) about pickleball or another sport, that may even help your brain health more. Having a stronger sense of life purpose is associated with a healthy brain, says Miller.

7. Never Stop Learning

Taking a class at your local university or senior center — or even online — can be a great way to boost your memory.

8. Discover a New Hobby (or Two)

Trying out a new activity in your leisure time isn’t just fun and games: It can also help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The authors theorize the benefits may come from a higher engagement in life or life purpose as well as the heart health benefits of hobbies that have a physical component, such as golf or social dancing.

9. Do Some Mental Math

Ready to guess how much the groceries in your cart cost? Or maybe how much tip to leave your server without using the “cheat sheet” on the bottom of the check?

Figuring out math problems without the aid of a pencil, paper, or calculator may feel like walking a tightrope without a net, but it’s good for challenging your brain. You can always double-check your answers with one of these tools after you do your mental math.

10. Tai Chi in the Park

“Tai chi is a good example of an activity that gets people moving. It’s doing something other than sitting on the couch and watching TV, and so I would say that there’s going to be benefits for the brain to some degree,” says Miller.

If practiced a few times a week along with other brain-strengthening activities, tai chi might help reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life, he says.

11. How About Some Trivia?

Do former Jeopardy! champions have better brain health? There hasn’t been a study on that (yet), but playing trivia with friends or heading to your local pub for trivia night could have some brain-boosting benefits.

Continuing to actively learn new information — especially if it’s through reading — is good for the brain, says Miller.

And joining a social club or group (like a trivia team) can connect you to other people and help improve your emotional well-being — and that’s equally as important as brain health, he adds.

Keep Your Brain Challenged With a Variety of Exercises

While there are lots of computer games and apps that promise to enhance cognitive function — and research like the ACTIVE study suggests that computer-based speed processing training exercises can help — they’re not the only activities you should be doing.

“These games are typically about one type of thing: You are either getting faster, or you are trying to remember more things or learning more math,” says Caldwell.

If you are finding ways to be continually challenged by these games or apps, they could have value, but you can usually get the same types of challenges (or even better ones) from books, non-computer-based games with other people, or listening to a podcast on a new and challenging subject, she says.

The other issue is that these games are usually played while sitting down.

“That’s okay for short periods of time. But, generally, the more time you can be up and active and not in front of a screen, the better for your brain,” says Miller.

The Takeaway

• As we age, maintaining brain health is crucial for overall well-being. Engaging in a variety of activities that stimulate our brain — like learning a new language, playing chess, or taking up a musical instrument — can strengthen and create neural connections, enhance cognitive reserve, and promote neuroplasticity.
• While there’s no single solution to prevent dementia, diversifying your mental workouts can reduce dementia risk and keep your mind sharp.
• The key is to choose activities that you enjoy, which makes it more likely that you’ll stay motivated and engaged.