For years, scientists have been trying to figure out whether "brain workouts" such as puzzles (字谜) and online cognitive games could strengthen our minds and slow the process of aging.
Now, a study has found that regularly attempting a crossword may help slow decline in some people with mild cognitive impairment (障碍), an early stage of faltering memory that can sometimes progress to dementia (痴呆症).
While the study didn't investigate whether crosswords benefit younger adults who are not dealing with cognitive decline, it suggests that keeping your mind active as you age may benefit your brain. And the research offers hope to those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment that they may be able to stave off further declines in the memory, language problems and decision-making that are the hallmark of the condition.
The American Academy of Neurology estimates that mild cognitive impairment affects about 8 percent of people ages 65 to 69; 10 percent of people ages 70 to 74; 15 percent of people ages 75 to 79; 25 percent of those ages 80 to 84; and about 37 percent of people 85 and older.
The research, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, recruited 107 adults ages 55 to 95 with mild cognitive impairment. For 12 weeks, they were all asked to play one of two types of games, four times a week—spending either 30 minutes on Lumosity, a popular cognitive training platform, or 30 minutes attempting a digital crossword. After 12 weeks, the participants were reevaluated and given "booster" doses of game play six more times during the 78-week experiment.
By the end of the study, participants were given standard assessments used to measure cognitive decline, and friends and family reported on their day-to-day functioning. MRI scans also were used to measure brain volume changes.
Researchers found that in key measurements—cognitive decline scores, functional skills and brain volume changes—the regular crossword players fared better than the game players.
The finding surprised the scientists behind the study who had expected that challenging web-based brain games, which were specifically designed to boost cognitive function, would offer the most benefit.
"Our study shows that in people with mild cognitive impairment, crossword puzzles beat the computerized games on multiple metrics, " said Murali Doraiswamy, a co-author of the study. "So, if you have mild cognitive impairment, which is different from normal aging, then the recommendation would be to keep your brain active with crossword puzzles."
People with higher degrees of cognitive impairment appeared to benefit the most from doing the crossword which was designed to be a moderately difficult puzzle comparable to the Thursday game.
The study has limitations. Some of the participants may have just been more familiar with crosswords and that's why they responded better to the puzzles than to Lumosity's computer games. More years of follow-up also are needed to determine whether interventions such as crossword puzzles can "truly prevent dementia," Doraiswamy said.
