TED Health Could Mental Workouts Keep Your Brain Young? | NPR’s Short Wave
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Nov 25, 2025 
Jon Hamilton, NPR's science correspondent, dives into the fascinating world of cognitive training and its impact on aging brains. He explains how mental exercises can boost acetylcholine levels, a neurotransmitter that declines with age. Listeners will learn about a study where older participants showed a significant increase in acetylcholine after cognitive workouts, essentially reversing a decade of decline. Hamilton also discusses the importance of combining physical and mental exercises for better brain health and shares tips for sustainable cognitive habits.
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Whole-Brain Training Beats Narrow Games
- Cognitive fitness trains broad functions like working memory, processing speed, and focus rather than narrow skills.
- Jon Hamilton frames it as a whole-brain workout that counters age-related declines.
Live Demo: 'Double Decision' Gets Harder
- Regina Barber and Jon Hamilton demonstrate the 'Double Decision' exercise to show how difficulty adapts.
- Regina experiences increasing challenge and mental demand as the task speeds up.
Training Raised Key Brain Chemical
- A study found cognitive training raised acetylcholine levels in an aging brain region.
- The increase (~2.3%) roughly offsets the decade-long decline expected with aging.