Best Apps to Train your Brain
If you're worried about Alzheimer's and other memory-related problems,
then I recommend to try these apps
Fortunately, there are ways to slow or even reverse this frustrating
situation. Recent studies show that physical exercise is a great way to
not only keep your body fit, but your mind sharp.
Another way to stay sharp is to exercise your brain directly with
games and puzzles. These don't have to be all that hard, just a bit
challenging. Of course, to stay challenging you need to tackle new
puzzles and games every so often.
That's why I'm sharing these sites and apps with you. They'll help
you flex your memory muscles and keep your brain in peak condition.
1. Lumosity
![lumosity[1]](http://cdn3.dailyburn.com/life/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lumosity1.jpg)
This
popular app is split into sessions of three games tailored to your
goals: memory, attention, problem solving, processing speed or
flexibility of thinking. The games are played against the clock and
change every time. Developers say just one session a day can improve
mental skills and users can track progress and compare performance with
others. (Free for limited access, upgrade for $15 a month or $80 a year;
available for iOS)
SCIENCE BEHIND LUMOSITY
Lumosity is
designed by neuroscientists to train memory, attention, and more. With
foundations in the study of neuroplasticity, Lumosity games are used in
research, and have been incorporated into studies done by top scientists
worldwide.
Luminosity 4 Android users
click here
2. CogniFit Brain Fitness
Improve
cognitive abilities, such as memory and concentration, with sleek, fun
and addictive games designed by neuroscientists. Users can track
progress and access insights about overall brain health. Competitive
players can challenge friends, too. After an initial quiz, the app
adapts each game’s difficulty to your profile and gives you
recommendations based on your results. Developers found that users saw
improvement by spending at least 20 minutes, two to three times a week,
playing the games. (Free for four games or full subscription for $13 a
month or $120; available for iOS)
3. Personal Zen
Players
follow two animated characters, one of which looks calm and friendly
while the other looks angry, as they burrow through a field of rustling
grass. This game, developed by Dr. Dennis and researchers from Hunter
College and the City University of New York, reduces anxiety by training
your brain to focus more on the positive and less on the negative. “The
habit of thinking about the world in a more positive light — like
looking for a silver lining in a bad situation — is one of the key ways
we can promote our own resilience in the face of adversity,” says Dr.
Dennis. Even a single session of play can build resilience over several
hours. She suggests using the app right before a
stressful event, but 10 minutes a day will help build more enduring positive effects. (Free; available for iOS)
4. Brain Trainer Special
Like
Lumosity, this Android app contains games that have you memorizing
letter sequences, phone numbers and solving assorted math problems to
keep your mind in tip-top shape. Difficulty levels range from easy to
brain-tingling hard. (Free; available on Google Play)
5. Brain Fitness Pro
Brain
Fitness Pro employs a series of memory training exercises to increase
focus, memory and problem-solving skills. Developers say that intensive
working memory training dramatically increases attention and general
cognitive skills and that these benefits remain long term. ($4;
available for iOS)
