17h • General discussion
Brain Games = Wasted Time
"Brain training" apps don't prevent dementia.
Lumosity. Peak. Elevate.
Tens of millions of active users.
Zero evidence for dementia prevention.
Major studies:
ACTIVE: 10 years, 2,800 people
↳ Improved trained tasks only
↳ No transfer to real-world
↳ No dementia prevention
FINGER: 2 years, 1,260 people
↳ Multidomain worked
↳ Brain training alone: No benefit
Systematic reviews: Consistent
↳ Better at brain training
↳ Doesn't prevent dementia
The nuance:
These apps can be entertaining.
May help you remember names better.
Improve specific practiced tasks.
But that's different from preventing dementia.
The problem:
People spend 30 minutes daily on Lumosity.
Think they're preventing Alzheimer's.
Meanwhile they skip:
Exercise (proven prevention)
Socializing (60% risk reduction)
Managing BP (major factor)
False security.
What actually prevents:
Exercise: 35-50% reduction
↳ 150 min/week moderate
↳ Builds reserve, increases BDNF
Social connection: 60% reduction
↳ Real conversations
↳ Meaningful relationships
Learning skills: Modest benefit
↳ Languages
↳ Instruments
↳ Complex hobbies
BP control: 30-60% reduction
↳ Target <120/80
The disconnect:
Brain training is passive.
Sit home. Do puzzles. Feel productive.
No lifestyle change.
Real prevention requires:
Get up. Go outside. Move. Connect.
Harder. Less convenient.
But works.
Real cognitive reserve:
Years education
Lifelong learning
Job complexity
Bilingualism
Musical training
Not 30 minutes daily puzzles.
My dementia patients say:
"Did crosswords every day."
"Played brain games for years."
"Thought I was preventing it."
Did what felt productive.
Not what evidence shows works.
Activities that do help:
Learning new languages: Evidence supports
Playing instruments: Some benefit
Strategic games with others: Social + cognitive
These build reserve through complexity + social engagement.
Different from repetitive app tasks.
Better use of 30 minutes:
Apps → Walking with friend
Same time.
Proven benefit vs. no benefit.
Multiple risks addressed:
Physical activity
Social connection
Outdoor light
Cardiovascular health
What I tell patients:
Brain training improves what you practice.
Better at the games? Yes.
Better at remembering names? Maybe.
But doesn't transfer to:
Driving safety
Financial management
Dementia prevention
Be honest about what you're getting.
Entertainment and task improvement? Fine.
Dementia prevention? No evidence.
Bottom line:
Apps have figured out engagement.
Tens of millions of users.
Medical evidence doesn't support prevention claims.
Real prevention requires real lifestyle change.
Less convenient to market.
But it works.
Don't confuse engagement with effectiveness.
⁉️ Use brain apps thinking they prevent dementia?
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Brain Games = Wasted Time
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