Will Shortz, the legendary puzzle creator, may one day be responsible for defending our brains against the ravages of aging. When time begins to take its toll on the brain, spending extended time with a crossword or number-based puzzle can keep memory sharp. Anne Corbett, a senior lecturer in dementia research at the University of Exeter, has worked on two studies that point to the anti-aging power of word-based puzzles like crosswords and number-based puzzles. She used data from the UK-wide PROTECT study in both studies. People who did word- or number-based puzzles had better scores on tests measuring 14 different types of cognitive function. She and her team reported their findings in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The studies show that older adults who pick up a puzzle tend to have a shorter-term memory capacity than younger adults. "We hope this will encourage people to consider how they challenge their brain on a regular basis, and perhaps consider taking up puzzles or evidence-based brain training games as part of a lifestyle approach to keep their brains healthy."
The results of Corbett's study are powerful for anyone who just wants to maintain their mental edge later in life, because all of her participants were healthy individuals who didn't have brain diseases. She says that PROTECT is the largest online group of older adults. The size cohort completing sensitive brain function tests is the only one of its kind. Corbett compared people who did word puzzles with those who didn't, and found the starkest differences in the tests. The people who never did puzzles were inferior to the people who did a few puzzles a week. People who frequently engage in number puzzles have better long-term memories that incorporate emotions and context. They performed well in tests of spatial working memory, which involves remembering cues about a physical environment, and they showed improvements in attention, processing speed, and executive function.
Corbett says that the results double down on the idea of using it or losing it. There are things we can do to help protect against dementia in later years, according to this idea. There is some evidence that complicates the idea of education being listed as one of those things. Exercise may help fortify the brain. We can add crossword puzzles and Sudoku to the list based on Corbett's results. Word and number puzzles help our brain deal with problem-solving and memory, as well as other functions like concentration and attention. She says that these aspects of brain function showed the most impact in the research. Corbett is not a daily crossword doer. She says that she picks up a puzzle every now and then. It is worth building in some time with a puzzle book or an app into your daily schedule according to her results. When they really count, the results may manifest even if it doesn't pay off now.
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