Brain training games may not provide the benefits to brain health they claim to, according to experts. Instead, a report from the Global Council on Brain Health recommends that people engage in stimulating activities such as learning a musical instrument, designing a quilt or gardening.
It said the younger a person started these activities, the better their brain function would be as they aged. Age UK said it was never too late to learn something new.
The council – which is a collaboration of international scientists, health professionals and policy experts – has produced a report on the best ways to stimulate the brain and reduce cognitive decline.
It said that although many people thought playing online games, such as puzzles and mind games, designed to improve brain health was important, the evidence regarding the benefits was "weak to non-existent".
"If people play a ‘brain game’, they may get better at that game, but improvements in game performance have not yet been shown to convincingly result in improvements in people’s daily cognitive abilities," the report said.
For example, there was no evidence that playing sudoku would help you manage your finances any better, it added.