Can you change an 88-year-old brain? This question arose when 88-year-old Mr. JT Johnson started using AI program to correct his dyslexia. Dyslexia is a common reading difficulty, affecting 1 in 5 people (Yale Dyslexia Center, 2022). This is classified as a learning disability in schools.
Although this neurological disorder is thought to be incurable and thus lifelong, advanced AI technology has overcome some children’s learning difficulties. a university-run clinical trial (May and Van Horn, 2025).
Mr. Johnson saw a 9-year-old boy with dyslexia on TV and used AI software to help him overcome it. The 88-year-old decided to try it. He was not the only one. When NBC Nightly News When the feature went live, more than a quarter of requests to AI developers came from individuals 60 and older.
The desire to overcome dyslexia is lifelong
I asked Mr. Johnson why he wanted to change his dyslexia at this age. This is his promise to himself that one day he will study like everyone else.
For others, it was knowing why. Why couldn’t they when others could? They knew it had nothing to do with it intelligence or action. Why could others who were not intelligent and capable read easily, but they could not?
For others, their spouses worry that late in life, their loved one with dyslexia may find it difficult to navigate a text-dependent world. Daily tasks such as filling out forms and reading directions and signs can be additional triggers worry.
When there is a solution, the sting of the stigma is lessened
For eight years, Mr. Johnson did not speak publicly about his dyslexia. In fact, when he was in school, his teachers didn’t even use the word. But now it is opening because there is hope.
In addition, understanding the source of the problem makes it easier to explain one’s condition to others. People with dyslexia have difficulty processing language effectively in the brain. So the solution lies in improving the efficiency of this processing. A clinical trial (May & Van Horne, 2025) and case studies (Hoh & Haruta, 2018) show that it can be done in children and young adults in their 20s. But what about middle-aged adults and beyond?
Research shows that aging brains still respond to training
Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to reorganize and form new ones nervous relationships throughout life. Although the brain’s neuroplastic capacity declines with age, research highlights its ability to adapt late in life (Tsiakiri et al., 2025). Some experimental studies show structural and functional improvements in the brains of people between the ages of 65 and 88 who have undergone appropriate training (Grover et al., 2022).
Computerized cognitive and linguistic training has been shown to be beneficial. In one study, participants were in their 70s and had a known history of minor neurocognitive disorders. mild cognitive impairment. Computerized training halted their cognitive decline (Tsiakiri et al., 2025).
Language helps to form a cognitive reserve
The elderly were encouraged to learn a foreign language. Language learning involves many functions, including linguistic, cognitive, social, and affective domains. By promoting neuroplasticity on a large scale, language learning serves to counteract the general decline of aging (Bubbico et al., 2025).
The relationship between linguistic ability and cognitive endurance shown in the iconic longitudinal study of aging and dementia 678 Catholic nuns participated. It is commonly referred to as the Nun Study (Clarke et al., 2024). The Nun Study shows that high linguistic performance is shown early in life education grades and writing patterns, have lasting effects on cognitive health.
How fast and how quickly do old brains adapt?
The lesson here is that we need to work on our brains to keep our bodies healthy. The question is not whether old brains can be changed. They do. Rather, the question is how fast and how much. Research shows that intensive training or repeated practice of a new skill can change neural structures and functions within a week (Rabipour and Raz, 2012).
During the 30-minute language game session, Mr. Johnson’s scores on phonemic awareness improved from 50 percent accuracy to 80 percent accuracy. Phonemic awareness is the sensitivity to speech sounds, a prerequisite for spelling and word decoding. Lack of phonemic awareness is a strong predictor of dyslexia (Elliott & Grigorenko, 2014).
Because dyslexia therapy gamified, Mr. Johnson, formerly the star sportsmanpushed to win. His competitive spirit drove him to beat the game. Research repeatedly shows the powerful combination of exercise and cognitive and social stimulation on end-stage performance and endurance.
Mr. JT Johnson, 88, provides an interesting example because he is a remarkable individual. He is the last surviving member of Dr. Martin Luther King’s inner circle. Mr. Johnson was instrumental in the civil rights protests Saint AugustineFlorida, which prompted the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
Just as his courage, tenacity, and ingenuity paved the way for others to follow during the Civil Rights Movement, Mr. JT Johnson is serving as a pioneer in this field of brain science today. After a few months of training, he is witnessing significant improvements in syllabification and spelling. We all strive to make his dream come true.
