'No evidence' brain games help memory

According to consumer magazine Which?, experts including Dr Chris Bird from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in London, Dr Paul Howard-Jones from Bristol University and Dr Adrian Owen from the Medical Research Council's Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge found that the claims made by manufacturers were false and there was no scientific evidence to suggest brain trainers keep minds in shape.

The first brain trainer examined by the scientists was Nintendo's Dr Kawashima's Brain Training, which has seen a huge rise in popularity following advertising campaigns featuring celebrities such as Nicole Kidman.

The instruction booklet states: 'Training can help consolidate memory and creativity and may hopefully help develop a resistance against decline in later life.'

However, the experts found that there was 'no evidence' that using the product would have any functional impact on the user's life.

Another product tested was MindFit, which claims to boost short-term memory, but the team said the product was no better than playing 'computer games like Tetris'.

Martyn Hocking, editor of Which?, said: 'If people are under the illusion that these devices are scientifically proven to keep their minds in shape, they need to think again.'

• Related article: Video games aid memory and cognitive functions in older people

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