- A new study found that playing games can stimulate the brain and slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment.
- The study found that crossword puzzles were better at improving memory than other brain games.
- The early stages of cognitive decline were positively impacted by both crossword puzzles and brain games, according to scientists.
Age is a common cause of memory decline. While we can’t stop the passage of time, there are some steps people may take to delay cognitive deterioration and even prevent dementia. Experts frequently recommend utilizing brain-stimulating activities to keep memory strong—and a recent research highlights the memory benefits of crossword puzzles in particular.
A research published in the New England Journal of Medicine Evidence aims to investigate how different puzzles and games may enhance memory and lessen the risk of dementia in those with early or late moderate cognitive impairment. The study discovered that participants who conducted crossword puzzles had less cognitive deterioration than those who played other brain games.
A single-blind, 78-week experiment involving individuals who had previously been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment was set up at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute and Duke University Medical Center. Participants were given rigorous home-based computer training utilizing web-based cognitive games (such as exercises concentrating on memory, matching, spatial recognition, and processing speed) or medium-difficulty crossword puzzles. Participants completed this for 12 weeks, with booster sessions lasting up to 78 weeks. The research included 107 volunteers ranging in age from 55 to 95 years old, with 51 playing games and 56 doing crossword puzzles.
Scientists employed the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive score (ADAS-Cog), a 70-point scale where higher scores indicate an increase in cognitive impairment, to detect any cognitive changes over time. At 78 weeks, the researchers also employed the neuropsychological composite score, the Performance-Based Skills Assessment score from the University of California San Diego, and the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Finally, scientists used MRI images to determine the volume of the hippocampus (a region of the brain that often decreases with cognitive deterioration).
During the course of the study, the researchers evaluated the participants in person during five scheduled visits and three phone calls. Researchers discovered that crossword puzzles improved participants’ ADAS-cog scores, as did crossword puzzles’ effects on FAQ scores. However, both crossword puzzles and brain games had a positive effect on the early stages of cognitive disease, according to scientists. Based on MRI results, they also discovered that crossword puzzle participants had less brain shrinkage.
The researchers came to the conclusion that crossword puzzles were more effective than home-based computerized training at halting cognitive decline. However, the study had some drawbacks, such as a small sample size and the absence of a control group to compare results. Additionally, participants were required to speak English and have internet access and a home computer, placing them in a particular socioeconomic class. The fact that 58% of participants were female and 25% belonged to minority groups are additional limitations. As a result, the findings may not apply to all populations.
In conclusion
The study did not conclude that brain games did not function to keep the brain sharp, but rather that crossword puzzles had a greater impact. Brain games have long been considered as a technique to improve brain function in elderly people, according to research. Though scientists are divided on how much memory enhancers can genuinely assist, most believe they can help keep your brain busy. More research is required in general.