Understanding Brain Age

Brain Age is a weekly reading in the Muse app. It estimates how your EEG and cognitive test data compare with patterns typical for people of different ages.

Brain Age is not a diagnostic test and does not detect, predict or rule out any medical condition, including cognitive decline or dementia.

Learn how to get your first reading, what counts toward it, and how to read your results.

 

Before you start
Getting your first reading
Getting a new weekly reading
Understanding your results
Access and availability
Frequently Asked Questions

 

Before you start

Brain Age compares your results by age, so your date of birth needs to be correct.

1. Sign in at museaccount.choosemuse.com.

2. Check that your date of birth is filled in and correct.

You can change your date of birth twice. Changing it doesn't update readings you've already received. For more, see Updating Date of Birth.

The Meet Your Brain Age program walks you through what Brain Age is, how to get your first reading and how to build a routine. You'll find it in the Featured row at the top of the Train tab, under Start Your Muse Journey.

 

Getting your first reading

Your first reading needs two things:

1. Seven qualifying days. The days don't need to be in a row.

2. All four cognitive tests: Processing Speed, Spatial Memory, Impulse Control and Selective Attention. For more, see Cognitive Sessions.

Track your progress on the Brain Age card in the Health tab. Each qualifying session and cognitive test adds a check mark once it has uploaded, which can take up to 10 minutes.

Your first reading is released the following Monday at 9 am, your local time.
 

What is a qualifying day?

A qualifying day has at least 10 minutes of awake, eyes-closed sessions.

• Mind, Heart, Body, Breath, guided and External Audio sessions count.

• Sessions of at least 2 minutes add up to the 10 minutes. A single longer session counts in full.

• Once you reach 10 minutes in a day, later sessions that day aren't added.

• Keep your eyes closed. Sessions with your eyes open still count, but they can noticeably change your reading.

These don't count toward a qualifying day:

• Cognitive tests. They're a separate requirement.

• Strength, Brain Bloodflow and Live Brainwaves sessions.

• Sleep sessions.

• A session with a lot of poor signal. If a check mark doesn't appear after your session has uploaded, check your session results for signal drops.

Getting a new weekly reading

New weekly readings are included with Muse Premium.
 

1. Complete at least three qualifying days in the week. The week runs from Monday at 9 am to the following Monday at 8:59 am, your local time.

2. We recommend retaking the cognitive tests each week. If you skip a test, your most recent result is used.

3. Your new reading is released the following Monday at 9 am, your local time.

Track your progress on the Brain Age results screen under Progress towards next score, which shows the days you've completed and the days left in the week.

A session on Monday before 9 am counts toward the week that's ending, not the new one.

Understanding your results

Your Brain Age results screen shows your score in years compared with your actual age (for example, "5.2 years older"), a label, and when it was last updated.

Labels

• Aligned: within 3 years younger or older than your actual age. About half of Muse users land here.

• Above: more than 3 years older than your actual age.

• Below: more than 3 years younger than your actual age.

• Out of date: more than a week has passed since you last met the requirements for a reading. Your contributors turn grey until your next reading.

 

Key Contributors

Your reading has two parts, and Brain Age is the average of the two:

• Daytime EEG: brain activity recorded during your awake, eyes-closed sessions. Its value ranges up to 10 years either way.

• Cognitive Performance: the average of your four cognitive test results. Its value ranges up to 5 years either way.

A + value means older than your actual age, and a − value means younger. Tap Cognitive Performance to see a value for each of the four tests.

On your Brain Age results, Cognitive Performance means your cognitive tests. It isn't the card that used to be called Cognitive Performance, which is now Alpha Peak Frequency.
 

How readings change

• Small changes from week to week are expected. Daytime EEG changes slowly and draws on several sessions, so one unusual session won't move it much.

• Cognitive test results often rise as a test becomes familiar.

• Sleep, caffeine, stress and time of day can affect your cognitive test results.

• For the most consistent readings, record your sessions and take your tests at a similar time of day.

Access and availability

• Your first Brain Age reading is free. Without Muse Premium, it stays unlocked for 24 hours.

• After 24 hours, the Brain Age card still shows your score with a lock. Subscribing to Muse Premium unlocks your first reading again. Tap Upgrade to Unlock to see Muse Premium options.

• New weekly readings are included with Muse Premium.

• The cognitive tests are free for everyone.

• Brain Age works with all Muse headbands: Original Muse, Muse 2, Muse S and Muse S Athena.

You'll find Brain Age on the Health tab, on the screen titled "Brain Health".

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I have a Brain Age reading yet?

Readings are released on Monday at 9 am, your local time, after you've met the requirements. For a first reading, check that you have seven qualifying days and all four cognitive tests. For a weekly reading, you need Muse Premium and three qualifying days in the week. Sleep, Strength, Brain Bloodflow, and Live Brainwaves sessions don't count.
 

I did a session, but there's no check mark. Why?

A check mark appears once the session has uploaded, which can take up to 10 minutes. Check that the session type counts, that it was at least 2 minutes long, and that you had at least 10 minutes of qualifying sessions that day.

Why is my reading locked?

Without Muse Premium, your free first reading stays unlocked for 24 hours. After that, your score stays visible with a lock. Subscribing to Muse Premium unlocks your first reading again. New weekly readings are included with Muse Premium.

Why did my Brain Age change?

Small changes from week to week are expected. Your cognitive test results, test conditions and the time of day you record your sessions can all affect your reading.

My Brain Age is older than my actual age. What does that mean?

Brain Age is not a diagnostic test and does not detect, predict or rule out any medical condition, including cognitive decline or dementia. Brain Age is designed around eyes-closed sessions, and sessions with your eyes open can make your reading noticeably older. Check that your date of birth is correct, too. If you have concerns about your health, please speak with a healthcare professional.

I entered the wrong date of birth. Will my reading update?

Changing your date of birth doesn't update readings you've already received. Future readings use your new date of birth. See Updating Date of Birth.

Do I have to do the cognitive tests every week?

We recommend it. If you skip a test, your most recent result is used for your next reading.

Is the Cognitive Performance contributor the same as the old Cognitive Performance card?

No. On your Brain Age results, Cognitive Performance is the average of your four cognitive test results. The card that used to be called Cognitive Performance is now called Alpha Peak Frequency.