What's a Brain to Do?

In middle age, your brain has been on the job, working 24/7, for decades. Whether you are 40, 50 or older, you may be getting the sense that it’s time for a mental tune-up. Research backs up that sentiment—as part of normal aging, some cognitive functions deteriorate. But regular mental exercise can help slow the decline, studies show.

Nowadays, you have many options for exercising your brain, from self-help books to computer games, many of which are designed for the healthy, over-50 set who want to improve—or at least protect—their brain fitness.

But why not just play bridge or other mentally stimulating games? Companies argue that games such as bridge, Sudoku and crossword puzzles don’t do enough. Relying on them for brain fitness is like going to the gym and working out only your arm muscles and forgetting your legs. But cognitive scientists—and perhaps you, too—wonder whether these new products restore your frayed neurons and make you sharper.