Brain exercises may help boost and maintain brain function. Memory games, learning new skills, crosswords, and even video games may help.

Certain activities may help boost brain function and connectivity. This in turn may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration.

Some activities can engage the brain in new ways, potentially leading to improvements in memory, cognitive function, or creativity.

This article outlines 22 brain exercises that may help boost memory, cognition, and creativity. These are in no particular order.

Meditation generally involves focusing attention in a calm, controlled way. Meditating may have multiple benefits for both the brain and the body.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthTrusted Source, research suggests that meditation may benefit the brain by affecting its structure or how it functions. However, more research is necessary.

Visualization involves forming a mental image to represent information. The mental image may be in the form of pictures or animated scenes.

A 2018 reviewTrusted Source notes that visualization helps people organize information and make appropriate decisions.

People can practice visualization in their day-to-day lives. For example, before going shopping, people can visualize how they will get to and from the grocery store, and imagine what they will buy when they get there.

The key is to imagine the scenes vividly and in as much detail as possible.

Playing card games or board games may be beneficial for the brain.

A 2023 articleTrusted Source found a link between playing games and slowing down cognitive decline in older adults.

Brain training games can test a person’s memory and ability to remember patterns.

They are a simple and fun way to engage the brain and activate areas related to pattern recognition and recall.

According to a 2021 studyTrusted Source, brain training games may help improve cognitive performance in older adults.

Crossword puzzles may stimulate the brain.

A 2022 study found that computerized crossword puzzles could help improve cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment. The study suggests that crosswords may be more beneficial for the brain than computerized games.

Completing a jigsaw puzzle can be a good way to pass the time and may also benefit the brain.

A 2018 studyTrusted Source found that puzzles activate many cognitive functions, including:

  • perception
  • mental rotation
  • working memory
  • reasoning

The study concluded that doing jigsaw puzzles regularly and throughout life may protect against the effects of brain aging.

Number puzzles, such as sudoku, can be a fun way to challenge the brain. They may also improve cognitive function in some people.

A 2019 studyTrusted Source of adults aged between 50 and 93 years found that those who practiced number puzzles more frequently tended to have better cognitive function.

A 2019 review suggests that chess may help protect against cognitive decline in older adults.

However, the review also notes that chess is unlikely to have any particular benefit for people with existing dementia or other conditions causing cognitive decline.

A 2015 studyTrusted Source looked at the benefits of regular participation in cognitively stimulating games such as checkers in middle-aged adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study found possible links between the game playing and larger brain volume and improved markers of cognitive health in people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

More research is necessary.

Some types of video games may support the brain. A 2022 studyTrusted Source compared the cognitive effects of playing video games in children with those of children who did not play video games.

The study found that those who played video games had better:

  • attention
  • memory
  • reaction times

However, the study also noted that the differences between children who played video games and those who did not were so small that they did not have any clinical relevance.

It is important to note that further study may be necessary due to concerns about the association with mental health symptoms.

Enjoying the company of friends may be a mentally engaging leisure activity and may help preserve cognitive function.

A 2019 study found that people with more frequent social contact were less likely to experience cognitive decline and dementia.

Some social activities that may help stimulate the brain include:

  • having discussions
  • playing games
  • participating in social sports

Learning new skills engages the brain in different ways and may help improve brain function.

A 2014 studyTrusted Source of older adults found that learning a new and cognitively demanding skill, such as quilting or photography, enhanced memory function.

Increasing one’s vocabulary range is a great way to broaden knowledge while exercising the brain. A 2007 review suggests that enhancing vocabulary can lead to increased gray matter density, which can help with the function of the brain.

A simple way to increase vocabulary is to read a book or watch a TV program and note down any words that are unfamiliar.

A person can then use a dictionary to look up the meaning of the word and think up ways to use the word in a sentence.

“Bilingualism” refers to the ability to speak two languages.

A 2019 reviewTrusted Source notes that bilingualism increases and strengthens connectivity between different areas of the brain.

The researchers propose that this enhanced connectivity may play a role in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

A 2018 study found that listening to music a person enjoys engages and connects different parts of the brain.

The researchers propose that this may lead to improvements in cognitive function and overall well-being.

Learning an instrument exercises parts of the brain that are responsible for coordination.

According to a 2022 studyTrusted Source, playing an instrument could lead to a decreased risk of dementia among older adults.

Musical training may also benefit brain functioning in adults.

Taking up a new hobby can be mentally stimulating and exercise the brain in new ways. A 2023 articleTrusted Source suggests that engaging in hobbies can help promote healthy aging and improve mental well-being.

Hobbies that require coordination or dexterity will activate a person’s motor skills. Such hobbies may include:

  • knitting
  • embroidery
  • drawing
  • painting
  • dancing
  • learning a musical instrument

Regular physical activity or exercise is beneficial for both the brain and the body.

A 2023 review and meta-analysisTrusted Source found that exercise may help improve cognitive function in older adults. Regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and resistance exercise may be particularly useful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, regular physical activity can help prevent or delay the onset of conditions like dementia,

According to a 2022 meta-analysisTrusted Source, dancing could benefit older adults with mild cognitive impairment by improving:

  • global cognition
  • cognitive flexibility
  • memory
  • visuospatial function
  • balance

Certain sports are both physically and mentally demanding. Some require a range of cognitive skills, such as:

  • sustained attention
  • planning
  • multitasking
  • the ability to adapt rapidly to changing situations

A 2019 review notes that elite athletes who participate in high demand sports tend to have improved attention and faster information processing speeds.

Tai chi is a form of physical exercise that involves gentle body movements, rhythmic breathing, and meditation.

A 2019 studyTrusted Source compared brain function and connectivity among tai chi practitioners and those who did not practice it.

The researchers found that the tai chi practitioners had enhanced connectivity between different regions of their brain. They proposed that this may improve cognition and decrease the rate of memory loss.

While not necessarily an active exercise, sleep is crucial for both the brain and the body.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeTrusted Source, most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, although many people get less sleep than they need.

A 2015 reviewTrusted Source notes that sleep has been proven to:

  • boost memory recall
  • reduce mental fatigue
  • regulate metabolism

Contrastingly, sleep deprivation can negatively impact a person’s reaction times and mental states, according to a 2023 study.

Making sure to get enough sleep each night is an important step toward maintaining a healthy brain.

Brain exercises can range from engaging the brain in everyday tasks to performing targeted workouts for the brain. Some are specifically designed to enhance memory, cognition, or creativity.

Exercising the brain may help improve brain function and boost connectivity between the different areas. This may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration.

People are likely to differ in terms of the brain exercises they find most enjoyable. It may be a good idea to try a range of brain-training activities at first and to stick with those that provide the most enjoyment or reward.