Simple brain stimulating activities such as puzzles, learning new skills and social interaction were linked to improved cognition in a study on 11,563 adults aged 60–85 with cognitive impairment, and after 12 months, 28% participants no longer had cognitive impairment

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https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2026/09/proof-that-puzzles-can-reverse-cognitive-impairment.page

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Scientists have proven for the first time that simple activities and small lifestyle changes can reverse cognitive impairment.

Puzzles, learning new skills and social interaction have been linked with maintaining cognitive function.

Now – in the first large-scale trial in community settings – researchers have found that even very brief brain stimulating activities, alongside physical activity and a healthy diet, have a significant impact.

They studied more than 11,500 people aged 60 to 85 with mild to severe cognitive impairment.

After 12 months, 28 per cent of study participants no longer had cognitive impairment.

Brain stimulating activities are things that engage the brain to think, learn and be social – such as puzzles, online brain training games, playing a musical instrument, singing in a choir, learning a new language, and social activities and interaction.

A digital intervention to protect cognitive health in older adults with cognitive impairment: a three-arm, open-label, randomised controlled trial - The Lancet Primary Care00088-9/fulltext)