A three-year analysis following 3,966 adults ages 19 to 94 found measurable improvements in a multidimensional brain-health score among participants who used brief daily online training tools, including people in their 80s and beyond.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth followed 3,966 adults ages 19 to 94 for three years as part of The BrainHealth Project, a research initiative the center launched in 2020. Participants completed short training activities that took about five to 15 minutes per day.
To track change, the team used the BrainHealth Index, a patent-pending assessment that combines multiple measures into three domains: clarity (cognitive function), emotional balance (mental well-being), and connectedness (social and purpose-driven engagement). In the published analysis, overall BrainHealth Index scores improved over time across demographic groups, and the researchers said positive changes were also seen among participants in their 80s.
Engagement with the program’s tools—including strategy-based training, coaching and brain-healthy habit practices—was associated with larger gains than demographic factors such as age, gender or education. The researchers also reported that participants who began with the lowest BrainHealth Index scores showed the biggest improvements.
The findings were published May 2, 2026, in Scientific Reports. The broader BrainHealth Project continues to collect long-term data, including an imaging effort in which about 400 Dallas-area participants have undergone more than 1,200 brain scans at the Sammons BrainHealth Imaging Center.