Blog · 13 November 2026

Does brain training work? What the research actually says

The short answer

You get better at what you practise. That part of brain training is well supported. Whether that improvement carries over to the rest of your life is the hard question, and so far the answer from the best reviews is "not much, as far as we can tell".

That doesn't make brain games pointless. It means the honest reason to play them is the same as for crosswords or chess: they're enjoyable, they give you a small daily challenge, and you can watch your scores improve.

What the biggest review found

In 2016 a team of psychologists led by Daniel Simons published a long review in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest (volume 17, issue 3). They examined the studies that brain training companies themselves cited as evidence, over 130 papers in total.

Their conclusions, in plain words:

• There's extensive evidence that training improves performance on the trained tasks.
• There's less evidence that it improves closely related tasks.
• There's little evidence that it improves distantly related tasks or everyday cognitive performance.

They also pointed out problems in many studies, such as small samples and weak comparison groups. You can read the University of Illinois summary of the review.

The FTC and Lumosity (2016)

In January 2016 the US Federal Trade Commission settled with Lumos Labs, the company behind Lumosity. Lumosity agreed to pay $2 million, with a $50 million judgment suspended. The FTC said the company had advertised, without enough evidence, that its games could help users perform better at work and school and could delay age-related decline, among other claims.

The case changed how the whole category talks. You'll notice careful wording on brain game listings today: "challenge", "practise", "exercise". If you see an app promising to prevent dementia or raise your IQ, be sceptical. Source: FTC press release.

What about the ACTIVE study?

ACTIVE is a long-running US trial that started in the late 1990s with older adults doing short courses of memory, reasoning or speed-of-processing training. A 20-year follow-up reported in 2026 found that one specific group, people who did speed training plus later booster sessions, had fewer dementia diagnoses in insurance records than the control group. Memory and reasoning training didn't show that effect, and neither did speed training without boosters.

It's an interesting result, but it's about one specific training programme, measured through records rather than direct testing, and it needs to be repeated. It isn't evidence about any particular app, including ours. Summary: EurekAlert.

So why play brain games at all?

Plenty of good reasons don't need a medical claim:

• They're fun. A short, well-made puzzle is a nice break from scrolling.
• They're a habit you can keep. A three-minute daily routine is easy to stick to.
• You see real progress, in the game. Your scores and levels rise, and that feels good.
• They're social. Comparing scores with a friend or family member is a little daily ritual.

Think of brain games like a hobby. Variety helps: mix memory, number, word and logic puzzles, and keep doing the things that research does support for overall wellbeing, like sleep, exercise and time with people.

How to choose a brain game app honestly

1. Ignore big promises. "Clinically proven", "raise your IQ" and "prevent decline" are red flags.
2. Look for clear, fair pricing. Know what's free before you start a trial.
3. Pick variety over volume. A handful of good games you enjoy beats 50 you never open.
4. Pick what you'll actually play. The best app is the one you come back to tomorrow.

Where Squiggle Brain stands

We make Squiggle Brain. It's a set of hand-drawn mini-games for memory, focus, speed, math, logic and words, with a short daily workout. We describe it as a game for fun and practice, because that's what the evidence supports. Your scores show you're getting better at our games; we don't claim more than that.

FAQ

Does brain training increase IQ?

There's no good evidence that commercial brain games raise IQ. Large reviews find people improve at the games they practise, with little transfer to general intelligence.

Can brain games prevent dementia?

No brain game app has shown that it prevents dementia. One long-term study found a link for a specific speed-training programme with booster sessions, but that result needs confirming and doesn't apply to apps in general. Talk to a doctor about brain health.

Are brain games a waste of time?

Not if you enjoy them. They're a fine hobby, like crosswords or sudoku. Just don't expect them to replace sleep, exercise or medical advice.

How long should I play brain games each day?

There's no proven amount. A few minutes a day is easy to keep up, and consistency matters more than long sessions for building a habit.