Numerous video game manufacturers are releasing games aimed at improving your memory and your brain’s cognitive function. But can these video games truly help?

The answer is yes. The brain is a complicated thing, and as with a lot of things in life, you need to use it or lose it. If you don’t practice your addition skills on a regular basis, chances are, you’ll lose the ability to add quickly and easily, or to recall commonly used combinations at the blink of an eye. With the brain training games that have become popular over the last few years, you are doing just that—keeping your brain working on everyday tasks and memory tests. This way, your recall will improve.

However, brain games are not the answer to your overall health and well-being mentally. It’s important to understand that you can only strengthen the parts of the brain that you are using consistently. So if you are a taxi cab driver mastering the streets and locations of your town, chances are, the area of your spatial abilities will be improved. If you’re a math teacher, teaching students the same mathematical methods over time, you will excel in mathematical reasoning.

Don’t let brain games be the end-all, be all of lifelong learning—but don’t shy away from them either. Participating in any self-improvement is beneficial at any age or time in your life, and if a video game can help, more power to you!