By their own admission, Americans’ cognitive well-being is improving. That’s according to a new survey conducted by Interaxon’s Muse brain health and wellness platform.
For its 2024 Muse Brain Health Report, the Toronto-based company partnered with Pollfish to survey 5,000 U.S. adults across six areas of brain health – mood, sleep, concentration, memory, creativity and productivity – as well as overall well-being. Respondents scored themselves on a scale of 1 to 10 in each category, with a maximum possible score of 60.
The average brain health score this year was 40, compared to 37 in 2022. Self-reported scores were highest in memory, followed by concentration, productivity, creativity and mood. Sleep scores were lower.
“As we navigate the complex landscape of brain health, the findings from this study highlight both progress and obstacles when it comes to understanding our cognitive well-being,” said Walter Greenleaf, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Interaxon, in a press release. .
Healthy eating was the activity most positively associated with respondents’ brain health, followed by recreational activities, time with friends, exercise and volunteering. Other activities linked to greater perceived brain health include spending time outdoors, morning routine, organization/household chores, reading, and meditation.
Muse designed its investigation in part with the World Health Organization’s definition of brain health in mind: “the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, socio-emotional, behavioral, and motor domains, which allows a person to realize one’s full potential throughout life naturally, regardless of the presence or absence of disorders.”
State rankings on overall brain health have changed dramatically over the past two years. New Hampshire jumped 30 spots to reach the top spot in 2024, while the 2022 winner, Rhode Island, slumped to No. 48. Only three states in the top 10 were also in the 2022 cohort. No state but two years ago it topped one of six cognitive well-being categories and it did so again this year.
Fewer variations were present among the 29 cities examined. While 2022 winner Orlando, Florida, dropped six spots, the Sunshine State once again had three cities in the top 10, including No. 1 Miami and no. 2 Tampa-St. Petersburg. Among this year’s top 10, No. 6 Atlanta, Georgia, made the biggest jump, up from No. 24 in 2022.
10 states with the best brain health
1.New Hampshire (compared to #31)
2.South Carolina (compared to #24)
3.Nevada (compared to n. 39)
4.Massachusetts (compared to n. 21)
5. New Jersey (compared to #10)
6.Florida (compared to #13)
7. Maine (down from #4)
8. Mississippi (compared to #9)
9. New York (compared to #16)
10. Delaware (compared to #20)
10 states with the worst brain health
50. North Dakota (down from #44)
49. West Virginia (down from #46)
48. Rhode Island (down from #1)
47. New Mexico (down from #25)
46. Wyoming (down from #11)
45.Oregon (down from #40)
44. Arkansas (down from #17)
43.Vermont (down from #38)
42.Louisiana (down from #41)
41.Kentucky (compared to #42)
10 cities with the best brain health
1. Miami, Florida (compared to #6)
2. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida (compared to #10)
3. Charlotte, North Carolina (compared to #11)
4. Cleveland, Ohio (compared to #17)
5. Boston, Massachusetts (compared to n. 21)
6. Atlanta, Georgia (compared to #24)
7. Orlando, Florida (down from #1)
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (compared to #13)
9. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California (down from #3)
10. Hartford-New Haven, Connecticut (compared to #15)
Top states in 6 brain health categories
- Creativity: Mississippi (formerly Alaska)
- Focus: Nevada (formerly Wyoming)
- Memory: Alaska (formerly Maine)
- Humor: South Dakota (formerly Rhode Island)
- Productivity: Mississippi (formerly Rhode Island)
- Sleep: South Carolina (formerly Rhode Island)
Best cities in 6 brain health categories
- Creativity: Atlanta (was Detroit)
- Focus: Cleveland (was Orlando)
- Memory: Miami (was Orlando)
- Humor: Sacramento (was Minneapolis-St. Paul)
- Productivity: Sacramento (was Orlando)
- Sleep: Cleveland (was Miami)
For more information on brain health:
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