A Johns Hopkins Neuroscientist Has Spent 30 Years Studying Why Your Brain Slows Down. Here's What He Found.
Let's start with the assumption almost everyone carries: that as we get older, our memory fades and our thinking slows — and there's nothing we can do about it. It's so widely accepted that most people never question it. But Dr. Majid Fotuhi, neurologist and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, has spent more than 30 years studying exactly this question — and the evidence points in a very different direction. Cognitive decline, he argues, is not inevitable. It is largely shaped by daily choices. And meaningful improvements can begin within weeks. That's why curious minds everywhere are turning to an app called Blinkist to explore the science of brain health.
Even Apple recommends Blinkist for lifelong learners, naming it one of the best apps in the world. With 43 million users worldwide — among them Apple CEO Tim Cook — Blinkist distills the key insights from the world's best nonfiction books into 15-minute reads and listens, across 9,000+ titles and 27 categories including health, neuroscience, and personal development.
1. A Book Explained in 15 Minutes
It takes the average person 10 hours to read a book — time most of us simply don't have.
With Blinkist, the most powerful ideas are shared in short audio and text explainers. It only takes 15 minutes to read or listen to them, so you can fit learning in while eating breakfast, commuting to work, or walking the dog.
Plus, 40 new titles are added to the app every month, so even the most voracious reader will never run out of great content.
2. It's Backed By Science
At Blinkist, there's a dedicated team of experts who sift through the millions of books published each year to find the best ones out there. Not just bestsellers — the hidden gems, the timeless classics, the books written for curious minds, by the world's leading thinkers.
'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.
Once the books are selected, specialist editors identify the key insights and turn them into bite-sized explainers. All of the content is created using neuroscientific principles, making the information easy to understand and remember.
Take a look — here's the explainer to The Invincible Brain by Dr. Majid Fotuhi, available on Blinkist.
The Invincible Brain
- 21 min reading time
- audio version available
3. It Transforms Mindless Scrolling Into a Brain-Building Habit
You know those moments when you catch yourself endlessly swiping through social media? It's something an alarmingly high number of people struggle with — it's called "doom-scrolling", and it leaves people feeling tired and mentally drained.
One of the many reasons curious minds love Blinkist is because it turns those wasted minutes into valuable learning opportunities. Whether it's on the subway, a quick break, or before bed: instead of getting lost in time-wasting apps, users engage in focused, insightful learning sessions. 80% of Blinkist users say they are more likely to spend time on Blinkist than scroll through social media. Here's what some of them are saying:
"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
So say goodbye to mindless scrolling and hello to a new habit that feeds your curiosity, sparks intellectual growth, and — according to Dr. Fotuhi — actually strengthens your brain. No wonder Apple and its users recommend it:
"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. Curious Minds Love to Learn by Listening
The app became particularly popular 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.
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: over 30% of people learn and retain information better when it's heard rather than read.
5. Over 94 Thousand 5-Star Ratings
Blinkist isn't just loved by neuroscience enthusiasts — it's loved by everyone eager to learn more. Today, there are over 94K five-star ratings across the App Store and Google Play.
What users enjoy most is how the learning experience fits around their lives. Just take a look at what some 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 young and discover new titles.
8. The Right Knowledge at the Right Moment
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
We’re proud of what we do—we believe in our product because it has meaning, purpose, and intention. Our aim is to help people learn, to allow them to grow, and to better themselves in whatever way they would like.
This was recognized and praised by the United Nations, who acknowledged Blinkist as a Global Leader in Learning and Education.
"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 43 million people located across the world — from neuroscience enthusiasts to full-time parents to top executives — Blinkist has a loyal fanbase of users who are all discovering powerful ideas in nonfiction books. Be part of it. Download the Blinkist app now and join the 43 million curious thinkers who also love to learn.
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.
