A new three-year study suggests that our brains can keep getting stronger at almost any age. Researchers found that even people in their 90s can improve their mental sharpness. This challenges the common idea that brain power must decline as we get older.
The study, from The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth (CBH), looked at nearly 4,000 adults. Participants spent just a few minutes each day on brain-training activities. The biggest improvements were often seen in those who needed it most.
Tracking Brain Health Over Time
To measure changes, the team used something called the BrainHealth Index (BHI). This tool tracks improvements and declines in brain health. It looks at three main areas: how clear someone's thinking is, their emotional balance, and their sense of connection and purpose.
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Start Your News DetoxLori Cook, a director at CBH and an author of the study, explained that the BHI uses about 20 different measures. These include well-known tests for sleep quality and happiness, plus tasks designed by CBH for complex thinking skills. The BHI compares a person's current scores to their past scores to see their progress.
Cook noted that these findings go against what many people believe about aging. She said that every brain is unique and can grow. The study suggests that we can actively work to improve our brain health at any age.
Improvement Across All Ages
The study found positive changes even in participants in their 80s. This shows that working on brain health can help long before any symptoms or diseases appear. It can also be effective later in life.
Sandra Bond Chapman, a senior author of the study, said that we often wait until something goes wrong with our brains before taking action. She emphasized that our brains are not limited by age, but by possibility.
One interesting finding was that people who started with the lowest BHI scores showed the biggest improvements. Cook suggested they might have more existing concerns and be more motivated to invest time in training. However, even those who started with high scores still saw measurable growth.
Engagement is Key
The researchers discovered that how much someone engaged with the training was the strongest sign of improvement. Things like age, gender, or education level did not predict whether participants would see positive changes.
Cook did mention that most participants were white, female, and college-educated. The team is working to include more diverse groups to make sure the findings apply to everyone.
Cook also highlighted the importance of helping people understand that they can actively shape their brain health. She believes that objective measures, like the BHI, can help boost public awareness.
Ongoing Research
The BrainHealth Project is still collecting data for long-term studies. About 400 participants in the Dallas area have had over 1,200 brain scans. This imaging data helps researchers understand the brain mechanisms linked to changes in brain health over time.
Deep Dive & References: Measuring and increasing the brain health span across adulthood: a public health imperative - Scientific Reports, 2026
