Much has been said about games like crossword puzzles, but science says: It improves memory, attention and thinking skills. In short, they help keep your brain sharp and young for longer.
in 2019, researchers They showed it People over 50 who regularly do crossword puzzles have brain function equivalent to people under 10 years of age.. A new study has just confirmed the benefits of crossword puzzles on brain health.
They can slow cognitive decline. Solving crosswords keeps the brain in good working order for longer. The new study looked at people between the ages of 62 and 80 with mild memory decline. It showed that after 3 months of practice, their thinking and memory skills actually improved.. Conversely, the other group in the study that made brain-training games, supposed to work on memory, got no such results.
The brain shrinks less quickly
With age, parts of the brain shrink, which explains why people have poor memory. In the study, subjects did crossword puzzles for half an hour daily, 4 times a week, for 3 months, and then split sessions over a year. An MRI of the brain was done and they found that it slowed down the shrinkage of their brainsincluding the hippocampus, which plays a central role in memory, and the cortex, which produces thought.
Researchers have not observed this effect in people who play memory games.
Why are crosswords useful?
In fact, the brain works like a muscle, shrinking if you don’t use it. Compared to other games, crossword puzzles have the advantage of engaging many areas of the brain to find the correct word. The clues given to finding the words of the grid force us to make connections to ideas that we wouldn’t have made otherwise, fostering new brain connections.
Sudoku also improves cognitive functions.
It appeals to the faculties of thought, but there are fewer possible associations than with words. This is also good, but you need to do something else. Moreover, this is the secret to keeping the brain in shape: you have to change your activities.
Variety of activities to make the brain work differently
Those who do not like crossword puzzles can be reassured. Many other activities stimulate the brain, such as reading, music, drawing… The important thing is that Get out of your comfort zone and always learn new things. Through contact with others and exchange. to herForget oxygen because, as scientists say, Physical activity is also effective in keeping the brain young for longer.
