Numerous mobile apps promise to improve concentration, coordination, memory or speed of thinking. How can we choose the right one to maintain and optimise cognitive functions? We take a look at the science behind mind-training apps and try out the top five games.

What do scientists say?

Let’s be honest: there are no shortcuts to make the brain fit at every age. Our cognition depends on complex factors, like social and environmental determinants or our behavior. Although millions of people use brain-training apps every day, many scientists still debate if they work at all. While single control trials show that brain-training games can boost working memory, some studies suggest there is little evidence of any improvement in cognitive abilities. Conflicting studies make it difficult to draw simple conclusions for or against these kinds of apps. Considering how undiscovered the human brain is, this will remain a question mark for years to come.

Even if some advertisements promise “significant improvements,” we shouldn’t expect that mind games will make our IQ higher, boost our speed of thinking or help the elderly to stop aging of the brain. But there is also good news: We can do a lot to improve cognition, and brain-training apps can be considered as one tool among a range of other ones. Daily physical activity, an active social life, healthy eating, life-work balance, stress management, positive emotions, education at any age, eight-hours sleep a night and many other factors can help – with each component being equally important, but none of them alone able to deliver the right mind hygiene.

Which app should I choose?

Brain-training apps are an excellent way to relax and stretch your mind. They offer logic or language games, puzzles, riddles, problems to be solved, math calculations. Some of them are challenging, for example, when you have to remember different symbols, match some figures with each other or count quickly. The best ones are usually created by scientists and game developers to ensure they involve all cognitive skills, like selective and simultaneous attention, long-term and working memory, reasoning, visual processing, pattern recognition, information processing speed. I have been using one of these apps for a long time. Besides being a lot of fun, it is an excellent alternative for mindless surfing on the Internet. Most of the games are challenging and need concentration. Sometimes you have to stretch yourself to solve a puzzle in a short time or cope with deceptive optical illusions. Among thousands of apps designed to activate your mind, I have chosen five. They are adapted to adults of all ages – the difficulty level is age-appropriate and based on an initial test.

Lumosity

Free (offers in-app purchases) / iOS / Android

With over 100 million users, Lumosity is a leading app in this category. In the randomized study conducted by the developer, Lumosity users improved their overall cognitive function. I liked it from the first moment after downloading it. The games are beautifully designed and convincing. The developer works with university researchers worldwide to guarantee its scientific basis.