APA Confirms: This One Daily Practice May Protect Your Memory
Science has been quietly building a case that the aging brain is far more adaptable than most people assume. In the April/May 2026 issue of the APA's Monitor on Psychology, journalist Heather Stringer reports that neuroplasticity – the brain's capacity to rewire and strengthen itself – can be actively leveraged in older adults, and that structured, continuous learning measurably protects cognition as we age. This isn't a fringe finding. It's the direction the research is pointing, consistently.
The most striking data point in Stringer's reporting comes from Rachel Wu, PhD, at UC Riverside. Wu found that older adults who learn multiple new skills simultaneously, in a supportive environment, can reach cognitive test scores comparable to those of young adults – not merely improved scores, but scores in the same range (APA Monitor on Psychology, April/May 2026). That's a meaningful distinction, and it shifts the question from can older adults keep learning? to how do they build the habit?
That's where most people get stuck. The science is settled; the missing piece is a realistic daily practice. Blinkist, the app 43 million people worldwide use to read or listen to the key ideas from 9,000+ nonfiction books in about 15 minutes, was built precisely for that gap.
1. It's Backed By Science
Neuroplasticity doesn't switch off at 60. The APA's reporting confirms that older adults retain the capacity to adapt and boost cognitive function – they just need the right kind of structured input to activate it. That's not incidental to what Blinkist does. It's the founding premise.
‘When we started most apps were for social media or gaming. We wanted to do something different and build an app that would add genuine value to someone’s life’ — Holger Seim, Blinkist co-founder.
That approach shows up in the titles. Take Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – one of the most widely read nonfiction books of the past decade, and one of Blinkist's most-loved titles.
Take a look — here's the explainer to international bestseller Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.
Sapiens
- 28 min reading time
- audio version available
3. It Transforms Their Mindless Scrolling Routine
Here's something the APA also found: state curiosity – the drive to explore and learn something new – increases sharply after middle age and into old age (APA Monitor on Psychology, April/May 2026). The appetite for learning doesn't fade. What fades is the right delivery vehicle. Most of what fills that gap is a phone screen and a social media feed – exactly the opposite of what the brain needs.
Blinkist is the swap. The app holds a 4.8★ rating on the Apple App Store across 148,000+ ratings, and the people who use it say so directly:
"This app should be in Essentials category: One of the best app purchased. I have been a member for 6+ years and I don't think I will ever stop. This is a learning experience that truly enhances my life." –5 star review on the Apple Store
"This has been the biggest boost to my productivity / lifelong learning ever. Honestly, I can't think of a better habit to start than Blinkist." –5 star review on the Apple Store
4. Intellectuals Love to Learn by Listening
The app became particularly popular with intellectuals when the audio feature was introduced. It made it possible for big thinkers to listen to every title in the app, which means learning never has to wait until you have time to sit down.
The audio-first design matters more than it might seem. According to the APA, 19% of U.S. adults 65 and older are currently employed – nearly double the share from 35 years ago (APA Monitor on Psychology, April/May 2026). Sitting down to read for two hours isn't the reality for most people in that group, or for anyone else with a full life. Learning while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog is. Blinkist is built for exactly those minutes.
Today, listening is the most popular way to consume the packs of actionable insights with around 70% of users opting to listen to Blinkist. This is no surprise as over 30% of people learn and retain information better when it's heard as opposed to reading.
5. Over 94 Thousand 5-Star Ratings
Blinkist isn't just loved by intellectuals, but by everyone who is eager to learn more. Today, there are over 94K five-star ratings across iTunes and Google Play stores.
What some users enjoy most about Blinkist is how the learning experience can fit around their lives. Just take a look at what some users are saying:
"Perfect for populating your mind with smart thoughts and the latest research. I use the audio format while in transportation." – 5-star review
"Very informative and insightful. I can cook dinner and enjoy the knowledge over audio." – 5-star review
6. Buy Only the Books You'll Love
With 15-minute explainers, busy people can take books for a test drive. If they like what they hear in those 15 minutes, they can buy the full thing to learn more.
"I've found that if a book is still interesting after reading the highlights I end up buying the book anyway. I now buy half as many, the ones I do buy are higher quality and more impactful."– @DaleyErvin
Not only does this save people money buying books they never read, but it saves them time, too, as every book they do buy is one they know they'll get a lot out of.
"Blinkist has helped me read more — period. I love that I can get the key learnings from 10+ books a week, and immediately implement them in my own life. Blinkist has also helped me filter the books I purchase — if I couldn't get enough of the Book-in-Blinks, I buy it." – Hitha Palepu, entrepreneur, author and Blinkist user
7. One of the Best Apps in the World
“Blinkist is one of the world’s best apps.” – Apple
Blinkist has won numerous major awards from Apple, Google, and even the United Nations. It's loved by everyone from The New York Times to Forbes, along with its millions of users.
What's more, Apple recommends Blinkist for those who love to learn. The tech giant named Blinkist one of the top 20 apps for lifelong learners.
The app is a favorite among book lovers who use Blinkist to keep their minds sharp and discover new titles.
8. The Right Knowledge at the Perfect Time
Curious people are drawn to Blinkist because they know they can quickly access the knowledge they want — exactly when they need it. This no-fuss, no-stress approach to learning removes the time and strain that might otherwise go into research.
This way, intellectual thinkers can keep up-to-date on the latest ideas, fill gaps in their knowledge, and easily integrate learning into their everyday lives.
"Blinkist is a lens to kick off thinking, a surveying tool. I can, for example, quickly review a few of the best books on negotiation." – Adam Gries, Founder of OKpanda
9. Blinkist Treats Its People Well
Many people find out about Blinkist by hearing about the inner workings of the company itself. It’s proven itself a great place to work with a unique company culture. LinkedIn named Blinkist the best startup employer in Germany and 95% of its employees on Glassdoor would recommend the company to a friend.
Employees love the startup’s culture and feel like they’re taken care of. This has led to a low attrition rate where staff has stuck around for the long run to help make the app even better.
“I moved to Berlin after living in New York City for ten years to work at Blinkist. I knew I would be working alongside some amazing people, building a revolutionary product. This, mixed with an exciting new culture and the way of life Berlin offers, made the move an easy decision.” – Carlos Alvarado, Country Manager at Blinkist
10. Global Success and the Stamp of Approval
The APA's research is clear: a two-year structured intervention combining physical fitness, a Mediterranean diet, and continuous learning produces greater improvements in executive function and processing speed than any single element alone (APA Monitor on Psychology, April/May 2026). Most people already have the fitness and the diet. The learning leg of that stack is where Blinkist fits – and where 43 million people worldwide have already placed it.
The United Nations said it directly:
“With Blinkist you can boost your knowledge and gain new perspectives so that you can be a better professional, a better partner, or a better you—and finally get through your book list or make sense of the increasingly big and busy world of ideas.” – United Nations
With a community of 40 million people located across the world — from tech entrepreneurs to full-time moms to top CEOs — Blinkist has a loyal fanbase of users who are all discovering powerful ideas in nonfiction books on the app. The spacing effect has been known since 1885. Now there's finally an app built around it. Download the Blinkist app now and start reading like the world's most successful people – one 15-minute session at a time.
Curious to learn more about the sources we have used for our ad creatives? Click here. References (1)
The Blinkist editorial team
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What is Blinkist?
Blinkist is an app that transforms key insights from great nonfiction books into quick, easy-to-understand highlights. The reality is – everyone loves reading, but no one has the time. Blinkist fills this learning gap and makes acquiring new knowledge effortless.
