Why these games — and what the research actually says
The honest summary: no game is proven to cure or guarantee prevention of dementia. But the strongest clinical evidence points to a few things worth doing, and this app is built around them.
1. Speed-of-processing training has the best evidence
In the large ACTIVE trial (2,802 older adults, tracked for a decade), only one of three training types lowered dementia risk: speed-of-processing / "useful field of view" training. People who did it had a 29% lower incidence of dementia, with roughly 10% additional protection per booster session. A 20-year follow-up reported by Johns Hopkins in 2026 found the trained group still had ~25% lower dementia incidence. Notably, memory and reasoning "drills" did not show the same protective effect. That's why our flagship game, Speed Spotter, is modeled directly on this task.
2. Adaptive difficulty and novelty matter
The effective training was adaptive — it sped up when you succeeded and eased off when you struggled, keeping you at the edge of your ability. Every game here adapts to you. Variety and novelty also help keep the brain engaged, which is why the app rotates across six different cognitive systems rather than drilling one.
3. Games are one piece of a bigger picture (FINGER)
The FINGER trial and the World-Wide FINGERS network show the biggest gains come from a multi-domain lifestyle: regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, managing blood pressure and blood sugar, staying socially connected — alongside cognitive activity. Think of NeuroLeap as the "brain" slice of that plate, not the whole meal.
🏃 Move dailyAerobic exercise is one of the most robust protectors of brain health.
😴 Protect sleepDeep sleep clears metabolic waste linked to Alzheimer's.
👥 Stay socialConversation and connection are cognitively demanding — in a good way.
🥗 Eat for the brainMIND/Mediterranean-style eating is associated with slower decline.
❤️ Mind your heartWhat's good for blood pressure is good for the brain.
📅 Be consistentLittle and often beats occasional marathons. Keep the streak.
Sources: ACTIVE trial (Edwards et al., Alzheimer's & Dementia: TRCI, 2017); Johns Hopkins Medicine 20-year follow-up (2026); FINGER trial (Ngandu et al., Lancet, 2015) & World-Wide FINGERS. This app is for wellbeing and enrichment and is not medical advice.