BRAIN DUMP: Brain teasers like Nintendo's Brain Age, Lumosity, and even Sudoku books are often sold as ways to get smarter while having fun. But a consensus published by The Stanford Center on Longevity and the Berlin Max Planck Institute for Human Development wants to put an end to "frequently exaggerated and at times misleading" claims about improved intelligence or reversing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
It may feel rewarding to get faster at solving puzzles, but don't conflate improvements in game strategy with a general improvement with the brain. "The notion that performance on a single task cannot stand in for an entire ability is a cornerstone of scientific psychology," states the author. A more realistic way to improve your cognitive health? Try going outside and getting some exercise.
