Two years later, a team of psychologists with expertise in intervention research, reviewed every scientific study cited by major brain-training companies in support of their products. In 2014, the Stanford Center on Longevity published an open letter signed by 69 international neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists saying that there is no compelling scientific evidence that playing brain games improves cognitive abilities in everyday life, although isolated benefits could exist. Lumosity isn’t the only app that promises more than it may be able to offer. The FTC settlement specified that with respect to “performance at school, at work, and in athletics delaying age-related decline in memory or other cognitive function and reducing cognitive impairment,” scientific evidence would require tests that are “randomized, adequately controlled, and blinded to the maximum extent practicable.” The idea of boosting mental fitness clearly has widespread appeal, but is that due to scientific evidence, or empty marketing promises?Ĭo-founded by Michael Scanlon after abandoning his neuroscience PhD at Stanford University, Lumosity says its in-house research team designs and conducts studies to test the effects on the consumer's memory, attention and processing speed – but that didn’t seem to help its case. Nintendo is resurrecting its fourth best-selling DS game, Brain Age, and now bringing it to the Switch in Japan this December. Of course, smartphones weren’t the original home for brain training games. In 2018, consumers spent an estimated $1.9 billion (£1.5bn) on brain training apps such as Lumosity, Peak and Elevate – a fourfold increase from $475 million (£383m) globally in 2012, according to SharpBrains, an independent market research firm tracking brain health technology. And there are a lot of people who buy it. All you’ll have to do is set aside a few minutes each day to complete puzzles, memory games and word quizzes.Īt least, that’s the idea. In the same way that we might go to the gym to exercise, a daily mental workout is said to produce physical changes in the brain. Some also suggest they could help stave off memory loss, dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease. Search “brain training” and you’ll find endless apps and websites promising to make you smarter, sharper and keep you mentally agile. With an ageing population worried about cognitive decline, brain training apps have soared in popularity.
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