❶Cognitive Training Tools
A Little Daily Stimulation—A First Step Toward Brain Health
Keeping the brain active is said to be essential in preventing or slowing the progression of dementia. Today, a wide variety of digital brain-training tools are available that can be enjoyed right at home. These tools are thoughtfully designed to stimulate various cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, calculation, and spatial awareness. Here, we introduce some of these engaging and accessible tools.
Nō ni Ii App is a tablet-based brain training application developed by Best Place, Inc. It is designed to help older adults maintain and improve their cognitive functions. The app offers a wide variety of training exercises that stimulate multiple areas of the brain—including memory, attention, calculation, language, and spatial recognition—in a fun, game-like format.
This app is used in a range of dementia care settings, including prevention, early intervention for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and ongoing cognitive rehabilitation. It has already been widely adopted in nursing homes and medical facilities across Japan. The interface is designed to be easy for older users, even those unfamiliar with tablets, featuring large text, voice guidance, and a simple layout that encourages independent engagement.
In addition, the app includes tracking and analytics features that allow family members and care staff to monitor changes in cognitive performance over time. As a non-pharmacological tool for dementia prevention and brain health support, Nō ni Ii App is highly regarded for its ease of use, effectiveness, and ability to be incorporated seamlessly into daily life at home or in care facilities.
Train Your Brain: Brain Training for Adults is a cognitive training game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, based on the research of Professor Ryuta Kawashima from Tohoku University. The game offers a fun, interactive way to stimulate cognitive functions through exercises that target skills such as calculation, memory, attention, and reaction speed—abilities closely tied to everyday life.
This software is particularly well-suited for older adults looking to prevent dementia or maintain cognitive health. With intuitive controls using a stylus, voice input, or Joy-Con camera, even those unfamiliar with video games can engage easily and comfortably. The game also records training results and displays a "brain age" score, providing both motivation and a sense of progress.
As an entertainment-style brain training tool that can be used casually at home, this product is ideal for early-stage cognitive support and dementia prevention, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It also serves as a fun way for family members to connect and interact, making it not only effective, but also a tool that brings people closer together.
CogEvo is a cloud-based cognitive training and assessment system developed by Total Brain Care Co., Ltd. It allows users to visualize and train their brain’s “vitality” through interactive exercises on a PC or tablet. The program targets five core cognitive functions—memory, attention, spatial awareness, judgment, and planning—and features over 20 types of tasks that are automatically presented on a rotating daily basis in a game-like format.
CogEvo is widely used in dementia care settings across Japan, including in hospitals, care facilities, and local government programs. It is particularly effective for monitoring and supporting individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early-stage dementia. Since all results are stored in the cloud, cognitive changes over time can be visualized through easy-to-read graphs, enabling users, families, and caregivers to share and understand progress together.
The system also automatically adjusts task difficulty to suit each user’s ability, making it easy to continue without stress. It has been well received in day care and rehabilitation environments. As a non-pharmacological approach to cognitive health, CogEvo contributes to both dementia prevention and improved quality of life through accessible, enjoyable training.
