Can Doing Crosswords, Puzzles, and Other Games Really Help You Stay Sharp?

“Brain games” have become a popular way to stay live as you get older.

Whether it is a daily crossword, a book of sudoku puzzles or a virtual brain training program (which is part of an industry of $ 12 billion), these games are often marketed – and widely raw – to help preserve cognitive skills such as memory, problem solving and processing speed.

But do they really work – and if so, which are the most effective? Here is what science says.

As you get older, your brain begins to shrink. Research suggests that after the age of 40, brain volume and weight decrease by 5% each decade and that the rate accelerates after 70 years.

But the narrowing is not uniform. THE prefrontal cortex—The region responsible for decision -making, planning and complex thinking – tends to shrink more than any other area of ​​the brain. THE Hippocampus, What is essential to memory and learning, also undergoes an important decline.

As a result, the elderly often experience cognitive difficulties, such as multiple problems, pay attention and recall words and names.

Regarding your brain, there is real in the saying “use it or lose it,” said experts. “Your brain is an organ, and if you do not use all parties, especially in aging, disease and poor health, it could start to decrease,” said Ian McDonough, PHD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Binghamton Health.

The brain games are believed to cause neural connections, as is training strengthens muscles. It is true that the more you play any game, the better you understand – and the more you develop the specific skills necessary to win, such as planning or problem solving. The question is whether these skills can really be transferred to real life.

“If I do a lot of Tetris, I’m going to improve in Tetris. Does that mean that I will be better able to remember my shopping? ” Said McDonough. Most often, Skills are not transferred, He said.

Experts were particularly skeptical about computer brain training programs, such as Lumosity and Brainhq, who claim to improve everything, from memory to Qi. A 2016 research review revealed that brain training games can improve performance on specific tasks, but there is little evidence that they improve daily cognition.

“It looks like a magic ball. There is simply no magic, ” Elizabeth al Stine-Morrow, PHD, emeritus professor in the department of educational psychology and Beckman Institute of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said Health.

“These are only these decontextualized laboratory tasks,” added Stine-Morrow. “Daily life offers much more stimulation than these brain training games.”

Despite their skepticism, the experts agree that there is No reason to abandon your daily brain games– Especially if you like them.

But if you hope to strengthen the cognitive function, certain types of games can be more effective than others.

First of all, you should find the game difficult. “You have to challenge yourself actively as you get older to keep these networks as long as possible as long as possible,” said Angela Hein Ciccia, PHD, an associate professor in the Western University Psychological Sciences Department, “said Health. “When he stops being difficult, he stops having the same effect on the brain.”

But this challenge should not become overwhelming. McDonough and Stine-Demain both recommended to find a “Sweet Spot” Where you are challenged enough to stay committed, but not stressed or frustrated.

“This is what creates plasticity,” Stine-Demain added, referring to the capacity of the brain to change. “Be just at the limit of what you can do, and the brain reclassified to accommodate these new changes.”

In a related way, Learn a whole new game is also important. This engages the less used parts of your brain, which can be particularly useful for memory and cognitive flexibility – the ability to move between subjects in your mind, said Ciccia.

“If you are really good at [a game] And you have been doing it for 20 years, it could be fun and it could make you happy, “added McDonough,” but that probably does not help you in the same way as challenging your brain and doing something new. “”

Finally, you must be consistent And spend more than a few minutes to play. Ciccia recommends playing the game at least once a week – ideally several times a week – for about 30 minutes.

Although some games can help support your brain, they do not replace a healthy lifestyle. Experts agree that what is good for your body is also good for your brain, in particular:

If you or a loved one feel cognitive symptoms beyond normal signs of typical aging – such as frequent mood swings or forget about recently learned information – talk to a health care provider.