Aging Brain Boost

Build cognitive reserve. Train working memory and verbal recall. Designed by a Northwestern-trained neuroscientist with 40 years in clinical practice.

Train the cognitive skills that decline first and matter most as you age — working memory, verbal recall, and the inner voice that drives daily decision-making.

Aging Brain Boost is designed for adults 50 and over who want to age sharp. Not a gamified puzzle app. A clinical-grade training program from Dr. Donalee Markus, a Northwestern-trained neuroscientist with 40 years of clinical practice in cognitive maintenance and recovery.

WHAT IT TRAINS

• Working memory — the mental scratchpad behind every task you complete

• Verbal rehearsal and inner voice — the cognitive engine of daily life

• Short-term recall and word retrieval

• Decade-themed exercises that engage long-term memory alongside working memory

• Carryover skills that translate to conversation, planning, and decision-making

WHY THESE SKILLS MATTER

When people describe "feeling slower" with age, they're usually describing changes in working memory and processing speed. These are also the cognitive skills that respond most strongly to training — and the skills with the clearest connection to long-term cognitive resilience.

Northwestern University's SuperAging research studies adults over 80 whose memory rivals people decades younger. Their brains physically look different — and the underlying neuroplasticity can be cultivated through the right kind of cognitive challenge over time. Aging Brain Boost is designed around that science.

THE PROGRAM

• Decade-themed working-memory exercises

• Hierarchical difficulty that progresses with you

• Brief sessions (5–10 minutes) designed to build a sustainable daily habit

• Designed for adults 50 and over, but used by adults of all ages

WHO IT'S FOR

• Adults 50+ wanting to maintain cognitive function

• Anyone with a family history of dementia who wants to be proactive

• Professionals who plan to keep working into their 70s and 80s

• Caregivers who want to model healthy cognitive habits

• Used alongside the broader Designs for Strong Minds program

WHAT WE WON'T CLAIM

We're careful with our claims. Cognitive training has not been shown to prevent Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, and we won't tell you it will. What it can do is build cognitive reserve — the mental capacity that helps the brain maintain function over time. We position this honestly, as one pillar of healthy cognitive aging alongside physical exercise, sleep, and social engagement.

ABOUT THE DEVELOPER

Dr. Donalee Markus earned her Ph.D. at Northwestern University and completed post-doctoral training under Reuven Feuerstein. She has practiced cognitive restructuring since 1983 and has been featured in Psychology Today, in Clark Elliott's "The Ghost in My Brain," and in peer-reviewed publication.