maniac from downloading all of them, getting a sidekick named Pinky, and taking over the

world? As it turns out… Brain games.

Hello minecraft enthusiasts, Julian here for DNews. Computer-based cognitive-training

software, or brain games, are a growing market with over 10 thousand in the app store. They

promise boosted problem-solving abilities that will be long lasting. They claim to help

sustain your memory in your twilight years. Some even say they can make you good at math!

All in exchange for few minutes of play a day.

But nearly 70 scientists have signed an open letter from the Stanford Center for Longevity

saying they’re not so sure. The letter explains that playing these brain games does make you

better at something; playing brain games. The same way that playing a lot of flappy

bird makes you better at unbridled rage! But getting better at a very specific task doesn’t

translate to broad cognitive improvements.

The letter also explains that when players get better at a game, usually it’s because

they’ve developed a better strategy, and I can attest firsthand to that. One of my

favorite “brain games” involves combining numbered tiles to get the highest score. I

only got that damn 2048 tile when I changed up my strategy, not by playing so much my

planning and spatial reasoning improved.

But surely playing these games can’t hurt right? Well the letter goes on to explain

that the time spent playing these games could be better used doing things known to promote

a healthy brain. Things like reading, exercise, or being sociable. So the opportunity cost

of playing a repetitive game with narrow benefits may make them not worth your time.

If you’d like to learn about more myths about your brain, like the oft-quoted stat

that we use 10% of it, Anthony has a video on that here.

How are you making your brain healthier? What do you do to get it jump-started? Let us know

in the comments, and I’ll see you next time on DNews