Texas Dallas study shows brain health can improve to age 90

Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas tracked 3,966 adults aged 19 to 94 for three years. Participants completed brief cognitive exercises lasting five to 15 minutes each day. Their progress was measured with the patented BrainHealth Index (BHI), which evaluates clarity, emotional balance and sense of purpose using about 20 indicators, including sleep quality and happiness questionnaires.

The study found measurable improvements across the cohort, even among participants older than 80. The greatest gains occurred in individuals who began with the lowest BHI scores, suggesting that engagement—not age, gender or education—drives improvement. Approximately 400 Dallas-area volunteers also underwent more than 1,200 brain scans, providing a rich imaging dataset for future analysis.

Lori Cook, the study’s corresponding author, emphasized that "the BrainHealth Index combines about 20 indicators to track individual brain health over time." Sandra Bond Chapman, the lead author, added that "the brain is not defined by age; it is defined by possibilities."