In a first-of-its kind study, researchers have reported that older adults who engaged in brain training drills retained measurable benefits up to 10 years later, suggesting such interventions may help stave off impairments of aging that rob seniors of their independence.
The trial, which involved roughly 2,800 participants from across the US, including in Massachusetts, is by far the largest and longest such study to date.
As aging baby boomers search for ways to stay mentally sharp, the popularity of brain games has soared in recent years, but researchers have decried a lack of rigorous evidence showing these interventions are effective in the long term.
The latest trial found that nearly three-quarters of those who participated in reasoning exercises and information processing drills still displayed those abilities a decade later.
Story by Kay Lazar at Kay.Lazar@globe.com Follow her on Twitter@GlobeKayLazar. at Boston Globe. © Copyright 2014 Globe Newspaper Company.
There are some excellent exercises on Luminosity.com if you wanted to give it a go.