I can't speak to the specifics of that program, but there is plenty of evidence that exercising the brain does reduce and even reverse the mental decay of aging.

London cab drivers have been shown to have many benefits from being familiar with "The Knowledge" (the comprehensive cabbie test that London makes people take). I'd say that's brain training, studying that.

I think it is good to stimulate the brain. But doesn't playing diplomacy do that? Or reading a book. Or playing a musical instrument. I am wondering whether these special "brain training" courses really add any more.

but hey... the company is paying for it. I should stop being so cynical.

as draug said. You can train the brain and develop new neural pathways even as an adult. This means you will have a different reaction to a specific situation.

Thus you can learn first aid or a martial art, and when you come across a situation which calls for it your training will kick in (instead of your default human reaction - of observe and avoid or fight/flight, respectively)

How this applies to something in work is a difficult question, though afaik brain training is used as therapy for the elderly and it helps reduce symptoms of several degenerative conditions.

And yes, reading, music and diplomacy all have stimulation which keeps you active. Though i don't know how to convince employers that we should be paid to go to a face-to-face diplomacy tournament :(

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/feb/26/brain-training-games-which

"...Though i don't know how to convince employers that we should be paid to go to a face-to-face diplomacy tournament"

That should be easy! Tell them how the game of diplomacy stimulates a mixture of relevant skills. Skills like tactical thinking, long-term strategic planning and creativity, which will help you become a better employee. But much more importantly, it teaches social interaction, groups dynamics and a diplomatic attitude (obviously!), which will make you function much better in a group.

If your job has anything to do with management, or marketing, or handling customer complaints, or anything involving social interactions, playing diplomacy is the perfect training!

Just be sure to leave out how diplomacy players tend to become egocentric, paranoid assholes. Unless your job involves risk management in some way, then the paranoia may even be a good thing!

And the list goes on and on. A short exempt of all the things one can learn by playing diplomacy:
- Being productive under severe time-pressure/Working with deadlines (What company doesn't have those?)
- How to lie, and how to spot a lie. Especially the latter is very important in some work fields, like the police, or insurance fraud.
- Never to hold grudges.
- Negotiation/making deals, which can be quite useful if you work in the financial sector.
- Arguing for something that you don't necessarily believe in (Explaining how your obvious stab wasn't a stab at all, merely a misunderstanding). This can come in quite handy if you have to debate a lot, for example, if you're a lawyer.