If you’ve watched a senior family member struggle with the debilitating impact of Alzheimer’s, it has probably crossed your mind that you could be at risk for the disease. Because researchers haven’t figured out what causes Alzheimer’s, knowing what steps you can take to prevent it isn’t an exact science. But there are strong theories that might help. One of which involves brain games and apps.
Using Brain Games and Apps to Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s research seems to suggest that a set of techniques called ‘brain training’ may significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Although research is on-going, preliminary results are encouraging.
Brain training is based on the idea that you can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment by challenging the brain regularly with a variety of tasks and exercises. These exercises can include activities like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and taking up new hobbies as you grow older. They may also include a variety of computer brain games and apps.
6 Brain Game Apps That May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
While research is required to support the evidence that brain training can prevent Alzheimer’s, these six apps are ones to consider downloading. Each one is challenging and entertaining.
- Luminosity App
With more than 70 million users worldwide, the Luminosity App is one of the most popular brain training apps on the market. It features a wide variety of games, each of which is designed to sharpen specific areas of brain functioning such as memory, attention, and processing speed.
- Peak Brain Training
Another popular cognitive improvement app, Peak Brain Training uses a number of short but intense exercises to improve mental skills like focus, problem-solving skills, and computational speed. It also features a virtual coach that helps track progress and point out problem areas.
- Dakim Brain Fitness
This app offers cross-training for the aging brain, with more than 100 different types of mental exercises that can simultaneously improve mental functioning and keep the user engaged. This app is especially promising because many of its exercises are based on the work of psychologists and brain researchers.
- Elevate
The Elevate App features simple and easy-to-access mini-games that use progressively more difficult exercises to improve mental speed, mathematical skills, concentration, and memory. Similar in some ways to Peak, Elevate is visually appealing, fast-paced, and entertaining.
- BrainyApp
This Australian app uses a more comprehensive approach to dementia prevention by providing challenges and rewards across five different lifestyle areas. These areas include heart health, physical exercise, cognitive maintenance, proper diet, and social activities. The BrainyApp differs from others of its kind because of its holistic approach to Alzheimer’s prevention.
- Cognifit Brain Fitness
This app features an initial cognitive assessment, as well as access to a wide range of entertaining and challenging games. The games were designed with the input of neuroscientists to help improve brain functioning in several different areas.
Hope for Older Americans with Alzheimer’s
At Heritage Senior Living communities, one of our goals is to inspire hope for people with dementia. In our memory care programs across Michigan, we help people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia live their best quality of life.
From dedicated dining to continuous caregiver training, we are committed to empowering adults with dementia. We invite you to schedule a personal visit to learn more!
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