In a WordsRated.com survey, 65% of US adults enjoy board games. What’s more, they benefit from a boost in serotonin, the neurotransmitter that improves mood and lessens anxiety.

Search “brain exercises for older adults” online, and you’ll find suggestions for everything from sudoku to chess. You’ll also find dedicated brain training programs or apps that promise ...

"Therapeutic games and brain stimulation mitigates cognitive decline in older adults." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 October 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2022 / 10 / 221012103127.htm>.

Companies are marketing a crop of digital games that promise a workout for the brain, with a battery of speed, attention and memory exercises. Researchers are working on them, too.

3. Playing games Playing card games or board games may be beneficial for the brain. A 2023 article found a link between playing games and slowing down cognitive decline in older adults.