Put on your thinking caps and celebrate World Brain Day, July 22!
World Brain Day on July 22 honors advances in brain science and promotes brain health. Our brain is an incredible organ that can change and reorganize itself throughout our lives. There are many ways to maintain sharp and healthy brains at every age!
Learn something new!
Almost any new skill or hobby that you learn, especially if it makes you interact with other people, can boost memory, brain flexibility, and social abilities. Try learning a craft like pottery, knitting, or cooking a new recipe. Learning a language activates multiple brain areas and helps protect against dementia.
Hands-on Activities
The mind-body connection is powerful! By physically moving puzzle pieces or writing something down on paper, you are stimulating the part of your brain linked to focus and memory. Keep reading for a few hands-on activities that can boost brain health.
Keep on Moving
As we age, we can experience more aches and pains, stiff joints, and more. When we experience pain, we often move around and exercise less, even though we know movement is good for our brains and bodies. However, almost any exercise can be changed to suit a different fitness, balance, or strength level. Look up modified exercises, such as those shown by Forever Fit with Mitch or Coach John Noel.
You can also try an exercise like Tai Chi for beginners, which is low intensity, low impact, can help improve balance, flexibility, and mobility, and reduce stress or anxiety. Simply walking when possible is also great for your brain health. According to a study in the Harvard Gazette, walking 3,000 to 5,000 steps can help delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
BRAIN GAMES
Brain games challenge focus, encourage using memory, and activate reasoning—like how different exercises work different muscles. Start with games you enjoy, then try harder or new ones for better results.
Crossword puzzles: Crossword puzzles help improve vocabulary and long-term memory. Try the crossword puzzle in a newspaper or a crossword puzzle book. Writing down your answers is better, but you can also find free crossword puzzles online.
Sudoku: Number puzzles like Sodoku can sharpen logic and attention.
Jigsaw puzzles: Puzzles can help with focus and visual-spatial reasoning while inspiring creativity.
Cards/Dominoes/Matching: Card and matching games train memory, concentration, and problem-solving, plus they’re social and fun.
Board Games: Board games can activate mental superpowers. Chess, Checkers, Clue, Jenga, and Scrabble stimulate problem-solving, logic, memory, and social interaction. Mahjong is another board game played with tiles that is growing in popularity and provides a great brain workout!
Fun Fact
You can borrow most of these brain boosters for free with a library card at your local library!
Prefer Digital?
There are several apps for playing brain games, too. If you are already spending a lot of time in front of a screen, try switching out a “brain-rot” activity (like scrolling on social media) with a game instead. Here are some apps that offer brain training activities for free. (Some may offer more features with a paid subscription):
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- Lumosity: This one helps you meet specific brain training goals. After setting up a profile, you can play three games for free every day.
- Greater Good Games: Greater Good offers many free online games, from crossword puzzles to solitaire, trivia, matching, and more. Bonus: Greater Good raises money through ad revenue and donates money to charities fighting hunger and supporting veterans, animal rescues, cancer research, and others. They have raised and donated more than $80 million to good causes so far.
- NYT Games: The New York Times offers daily games that you can play through a phone app or web browser. When the user sets up a profile, they can play word, number, and matching games every day, once a day, for free. This includes the popular Wordle game.
- Strategy Games from AARP: AARP online has a lot of free online games. Start with a game in your comfort zone and then add other games that are new or challenging.
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Of course, don’t forget the basics: good sleep, exercise, healthy meals, socializing, and regular checkups with your primary care provider are vital for a healthy brain AND body.
Mental health is also important! Check out our blog for several mental health tips. Keep challenging yourself, keep learning, and happy brain training!
Sources:
12 Best Brain Games for Adults to Improve Memory & Focus
30 Best Games For The Brain to Unlock Your Potential (2025)
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Your Brain | Psychology Today
Are Puzzles Good for Your Brain? 7 Benefits of Challenging Your Mind
A perfect match: The health benefits of jigsaw puzzles
How learning a new language changes your brain | Cambridge English
Are Puzzles Good for Your Brain? 7 Benefits of Challenging Your Mind