Can you really help your brain stay active after retirement? In the show “The advice of Doctor Kierzek”, broadcast on ICI on October 2, 2026, the chronicling doctor answers yes, provided we talk about regular stimulation, no guaranteed protection against Alzheimer’s.
After retirement, replace some of the daily stimulation
Dr. Kierzek’s reasoning is concrete: with retirement, certain demands often disappear, such as meetings, files or professional problems to resolve. This is not to say that retirement would automatically cause memory to decline. But Keeping mentally stimulating activities can help keep the brain engageda bit like maintaining a physical capacity.
This idea aligns with the World Health Organization’s recommendations on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, which include cognitive and social activities in a comprehensive approach. To go further, True Medical also explains how to work on your memory after retirement, without turning the exercises into an obligation.
30 minutes, 3 times a week: a practical benchmark, not a prescription
In the column, Dr. Kierzek reports a simple benchmark:
30 minutes of cognitive training, three times per week. It should not be presented as an official medical recommendation, but as an easy idea to remember to restore regularity in your activities.
The examples he cites are varied:
- Read a text then try to summarize the main ideas;
- Play sudokus or other logic games;
- Play board games, especially with other people.
This last point counts: the doctor specifies that practicing with others, “It’s even better”, because it also maintains the social bond. This dimension is consistent with the importance of social ties for memory. The objective is therefore not to achieve a perfect exercise, but to choose activities adapted to your tastes, your level and your abilities.
Dr. Kierzek also discusses “dual task” exercises, e.g. move while performing a little mental calculationlike walking while counting down. The idea is interesting, but it must remain cautious: in the event of balance problems, risk of falling or motor difficulties, it is better to avoid this type of exercise without suitable supervision.
The ACTIVE study gives a signal, but not a guarantee against Alzheimer’s
The strongest scientific point cited in the column concerns the ACTIVE study published in 2026 in
Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions by Coe et al.. This American trial followed adults aged 65 and over, with different training: memory, reasoning, speed of information processing, or no cognitive training.
Initial sessions lasted 60 to 75 minutes over 5 to 6 weeks, with repeat sessions possible. Over 20 years, in Medicare data, only processing speed training with booster sessions was associated with fewer diagnoses of dementia or related illnesses : 40% of participants concerned, compared to 49% in the control group. True Medical has already detailed the ACTIVE study on cognitive training.
The nuance given by Dr Kierzek is essential: the same effect was not found for training focused on memory or reasoning. These results therefore do not prove that any brain game prevents Alzheimer’s. Rather, they indicate that a specific type of training, within a supervised protocol, was associated with a lower risk of diagnoses of dementia or related diseases.
You also have to distinguish the words. The column talks about Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive abilities, but
cognitive exercises do not guarantee avoiding Alzheimer’s disease. They can be part of a broader strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, with physical activity, management of hypertension, stopping smoking or even paying attention to hearing when a decline is noticed.
Finally, games and exercises should not delay a consultation if memory problems become repeated, interfere with daily life, are accompanied by disorientation, language difficulties or worry those around you. In these situations, Health Insurance recommends a medical check-up.