Why is it worth doing crosswords and puzzles on a regular basis?
In this age of technology and rationalism, most people firmly believe that checkers, solitaire, crossword puzzles, and other logic games are nothing more than a great way to pass the time that no longer brings any benefit.
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Crosswords and puzzles against Alzheimer's disease?
But scientists involved in research in this area would disagree. As it turns out, these "empty activities" may well protect a person from Alzheimer's disease. According to the results of the research presented at the international conference of the Alzheimer's Association in Copenhagen, it can be safely stated that logic games, thanks to which brain activity is stimulated, contribute to the preservation of cognitive functions and the most vulnerable parts of the brain. Researchers say that people who spend time playing "mind games" are more likely to accept new information and learn and achieve better results on memory tests.
Scientific experiments...
In the course of the study, 329 healthy people, aged about 60 years, who were at risk of developing the disease, confirmed by family history and genetic characteristics, were examined by scientists from the IC and the Alzheimer's Institute in Wisconsin. In addition to a variety of tests, assessments, and brain scans, the researchers asked whether the study participants engaged in intellectual development, played games, went to museums, solved crossword puzzles, and read a lot.
It turned out that supporters of an intellectual lifestyle and those who like to while away their leisure time with a "scanword" achieve better results in tests and have a larger volume of brain areas less at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Hence, it was concluded that a passion for brain-developing activities will help people protect themselves from this very unpleasant disease. Doctors believe that these studies cannot answer the question of why these processes occur, but they are useful in identifying factors that affect the risk of deterioration of dementia and memory.
Dr. Laura Phipps. who works at the Alzheimer's IC from the UK, commented on the work of doctors from Wisconsin. In her opinion, it may be due to the "cognitive reserve" formed by the active brain, which allows the brain to resist the disease for longer. She also noted that the people involved in that experiment were not feeble-minded and that playing chess and doing crossword puzzles could not be said to prevent the disease. But it is possible that these people reduce the risk of memory impairment by monitoring their health, adhering to a diet, eating a healthy diet, giving up nicotine, alcohol, and other things.
... and conclusions
Summing up, we can say that crosswords and other intellectual games give people a chance, and it is up to you to decide whether to use or not, smart games will not replace sports for you, but as a pleasant addition to them, they will be relevant. Play and forget about getting sick!