Is it true that … doing puzzles prevents dementia? | Dementia

THat is a very strong statement, “warns Roxi Carare, professor of clinical neuroanatomy at the University of Southampton.” A more appropriate way of saying is: puzzles help delay the appearance and worsen the symptoms of dementia. »»

Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that lead to a drop in cognitive function. Certain types have been linked to poor elimination of brain waste.

“Whenever we perform a task, the brain area responsible for this task needs more blood,” says Carare. “This forces blood vessels to open and nourish the brain.

Genetics, conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, as well as lifestyle choices such as smoking and poor diet, can cause these walls to be starkered, making the brain less effective to obtain nutrients and cleaning toxins.

This is where puzzles come into play. “When you make a puzzle, you engage different areas of the brain – vision, association, memory,” says Carare. “This stimulates blood flow to these areas, even in slightly compromised vessels, which helps maintain functions.”

There are also psychological advantages, especially for the elderly: puzzles offer a feeling of success, which promotes well-being; And doing them with others can reduce loneliness, which is “a terrible thing for age -related diseases”, adds Carare.

We all benefit from a lifestyle aligned with better brain health: prioritize movement, nutritional diet and activities that trigger several parts of the brain and involve other people. (Things like walking with a friend, dance lessons and going to exhibitions are all beneficial.) If you are genetically predisposed to dementia, these choices will not stop it, Carare says: “But the symptoms may appear later compared to someone who does none of this”.