Experts Say Retirees Can Use This Beloved Classic Game Show as a Daily Brain Workout
For millions of retirees, watching Jeopardy! is a pinnacle of evening entertainment., and according to brain health experts, that habit may be pulling double duty - offering more than just fun for people looking to keep their minds sharp as they age.
"These games stimulate a person's ability to remember, focus their attention, process language and complete tasks using what is called processing speed," says Dr. Lori Bohn, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and medical director at Voyager Recovery Center. "They cannot replace more complex forms of cognitive training but, if done consistently, they could provide a fun way to keep your mind involved."
What's Actually Happening in Your Brain While You Watch
Unlike most television, Jeopardy! isn't designed to be watched passively. The format invites viewers to play alongside contestants as the game progresses, pulling from memory across multiple topics and categories. That active recall, Bohn says, is exactly what makes it useful.
"You have to access information you've previously stored when playing Jeopardy!; then you need to recall that information from your long-term memory," she explains. "The retrieval process strengthens the pathway used by the memory." Each clue is a small workout for the brain's recall system. Viewers who challenge themselves to think of answers before contestants are given what Bohn describes as "a type of mental exercise" that can build cognitive flexibility over time.
The Habit That Makes All the Difference
The benefits earned from watching game shows depend on how you engage with the format. Letting the show play in the background while scrolling your phone is very different from actively participating with every question.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that older adults who actively trained their reasoning and processing-speed abilities showed cognitive improvement. Although that research involved structured training programs rather than game shows specifically, experts believe that actively challenging the brain produces better results than passive viewing.
Dr. John La Puma, MD, NYT bestselling author of Indoor Epidemic puts it simply: "Play, don't watch. Tell the TV your answers, keep score, compete with the contestants, or with whoever is there watching with you."
What Jeopardy! Can and Can't Do for Your Brain
Jeopardy! isn't a cure-all solution, and experts are clear that physical activity, quality sleep, social connection and overall health all play significant roles in how the brain ages. No game show replaces those fundamentals. "The strongest brain-health returns come when mental engagement is paired with movement and daylight," La Puma says. "Use the show as a mental warm-up, and then go outside to enjoy daytime and give yourself positive strokes."
For retirees looking for a daily hobby or habit that actually does something useful, that's a pretty manageable prescription: answer the clues out loud, keep score and then go take a walk.
Sources
- Ball K, Berch DB, Helmers KF, et al. "Effects of Cognitive Training Interventions With Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial." JAMA. 2002;288(18):2271–2281.
- Dr. Lori Bohn, Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Medical Director at Voyager Recovery Center.
- Dr. John La Puma, physician, New York Times bestselling author of Indoor Epidemic: 93% Inside Steals Sleep, Focus & Years-The 7% Outdoor Rx Restores Them.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 7:47 AM.