Yes, And… Your Brain: Why Improv May Be a Workout for the Mind
We know that staying mentally active is one of the habits linked to a healthier brain as we age. Reading, puzzles, learning a new skill: they can all count. But when researchers try to turn "cognitive activity" into a program people can actually follow, the options get thin. Most brain-training programs are built in a lab, done alone on a screen, and feel a lot more like homework than fun.
So a team led by Dr. Kristin Krueger asked a playful question: what about improv? Dr. Krueger is a familiar name to The Official MIND Diet. She was part of our original MIND research team at Rush that worked on the MIND diet and U.S. POINTER clinical trials. She is also an improviser! Improvisational theater is fast, social, and full of laughter. It also asks you to listen closely, remember what was just said, think on your feet, and respond in the moment. Her team's study, published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, takes the first step toward finding out whether improv games could become a real brain-health program for older adults.
What the researchers did
The team invited 13 brain experts (nine neuropsychologists and four neuropsychologists in training) to spend about two and a half hours playing 15 classic improv games. Most had never taken an improv class. The games had names like Zip Zap Zop, Red Ball, Wind-Rewind, Buzz, Category Patterns, and Mind Meld.
Right after each game, every participant rated how much it used each of 20 specific thinking skills, such as attention, memory, language, decision making, and processing speed. Ratings ran from 0 (not at all) to 6 (fully engaged). The approach was modeled on earlier Rush research that rated everyday activities like reading the newspaper and playing cards for how much "information processing" they demand.
What they found
Improv is a real cognitive workout. Every game clearly engaged at least one thinking skill, and most engaged several at once.
Attention came out on top. 11 of the 15 games were rated high for sustained attention, the ability to stay focused over time. This skill matters for daily life and tends to change as we age.
Speed was a close second. Eight games ranked high for processing speed. Improv games start slow and speed up as players get comfortable, and slowed processing is one of the most common changes in normal aging.
Different games trained different skills. Wind-Rewind leaned heavily on short-term memory, while Picture Description drew on long-term memory and language.
The experts mostly saw what the designers intended. For 12 of the 15 games, participants' top-rated skill area matched the original plan.
People enjoyed it. In the debrief, participants said they had fun and liked looking more closely at how everyday activities connect to brain function.
The main gap: almost none of the games used visual-spatial construction skills, like those used in drawing or assembling things.
Why this matters for your brain
This was a small, early-stage study. It did not test whether improv improves memory or lowers dementia risk. Instead, it laid the groundwork by showing that experts see improv games as genuine mental exercise, so they can be built into a program and tested in future clinical trials with older adults.
Still, improv has a lot going for it. Unlike most brain-training programs, it happens in a supportive group, which adds the social connection we know is good for the brain. It needs no special equipment, works with groups of about 6 to 12, and can be adjusted for different abilities. Two earlier small studies of theater training in older adults found gains in recall, problem solving, and well-being. In other words, improv may bring together several brain-healthy habits at once: thinking, connecting, and laughing.
What makes an activity brain-healthy?
Not every pastime gives your brain the same workout. The activities with the most potential share a few traits, and improv checks every box:
It's new to you. Most participants in this study had never done improv. Novel activities ask more of the brain than familiar routines.
It takes real mental effort. You have to listen, remember, decide, and respond, not coast on autopilot.
It gets harder over time. Improv games start slow and speed up as you improve, so the challenge grows with you.
It leaves you stimulated, not depleted. Participants said they enjoyed the games, and enjoyment is what keeps a habit going.
Bonus: it's done with others. Combining mental challenge with social connection may offer the most benefit. Our U.S. POINTER study tested this kind of multi-habit approach, pairing cognitive challenge and social engagement with exercise and healthy eating.
Try this: say "yes, and" to your brain
Look for a beginner improv class at a local theater, community center, or library. Many are made for adults with no acting experience. Once the basics feel easy, move up a level.
Play a word game with friends or family. Go around the table naming things in a category (fruits, cities, desserts) without repeating or pausing too long. Speed it up as everyone gets better.
Practice "yes, and" in conversation. Really listen, accept what the other person said, and build on it.
Check in with yourself. After any new activity, ask: do I feel stimulated or depleted? Aim for stimulated, then raise the challenge next time.
Pair it with your MIND diet. Make game night a potluck with brain-healthy snacks like berries, nuts, and veggies with hummus.
The good news is that keeping your brain engaged doesn’t have to feel like homework. Whether you try improv, learn something new, or simply bring more play and connection into your day, look for activities that challenge your mind and leave you wanting to come back for more.