Cognitive training, like that provided by the games on our site, may be beneficial to warding off cognitive decline and brain disease. A great deal of evidence suggests that people who stay mentally active across their lifespan are significantly less likely to suffer from age-related cognitive decline, and individuals who have higher levels of education or have intellectually demanding jobs are much less likely Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Learning a new language, doing crossword puzzles, reading, and maintaining an active social life have all been shown to prolong mental agility, suggesting that diverse sources of mental stimulation can lead to a healthier brain.

In addition to traditional forms of stimulation like those mentioned above, cognitive training can be beneficial to maintaining cognitive vitality. A number of studies have shown that training particular core cognitive functions such as attention or working memory can transfer to increases in general intelligence, and many products specifically to train these cognitive functions.

However, what may be more interesting is that we do not have to play "training games" in order to improve our basic cognitive abilities. People who play video games regularly show increases in attention and working memory, both of which are central to warding off cognitive decline. This means that, in addition to playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, and learning new things, video games can keep our brain fit.

Instead of thinking of our games as training tools, think of them as fun games that also train your brain.