2024-07-22 17:00:00
The undisputed protagonists of summer during the hours of rest on the beach or in the mountains, travel companions of those who go on vacation during long hours on trains, planes and buses, but also a joint destruction buster for fun together. These are the puzzle games: crosswords, sudoku, riddles, rebus. Hobbies that can have value beyond sports. But do they really help keep the brain healthy? The answer – on the occasion of World Brain Day – is the anti-fake news doctor of the ‘Doctor, but is it true that…?’ portal, edited by Fnomceo (National Federation of Medical Orders). “These and other logical puzzles help to train mental skills during the tough time of the year – they analyzed – According to many scientific studies, solving puzzles will help keep the brain young, slow down the effects of aging “.
“In recent years, more and more researchers have shown the close relationship that exists between the quality of cognitive functions in old age and the practice of calculations – we read in the dedicated focus to crosswords & Co – The most recent studies that used data from representative and larger samples of older people have shown that, compared to their peers who do not like words, those over 50 with cravings for this type of game reports higher test scores on attention, reasoning and memory. Other researchers have gone further, suggesting that enjoying solving crosswords, Sudoku and other brain teasers reduces the risk of dementia. ”
Why are crosswords good for the brain? “Playing words requires a commitment, encourages critical thinking, allows you to use your imagination and in many cases promotes socialization – explain the experts – Improving the knowledge you get from this hobby, and from reading a novel, from learning a foreign language and in general from all those activities that make the brain train, can increase mental resilience, that is, the brain’s ability to resist changes that can lead to a disease, promoting communication between neurons and activate more efficient neural networks.” Science also responds to those who ask how many crossword puzzles one should do to be consistent: “After following 500 healthy elderly people for 5 years at the beginning of the experiment, research by the House- Albert Einstein’s theory of science has shown that it is more than 75. People who solved crosswords 4 times a week had almost half the risk of developing dementia compared to those who did this type of activity once a week or less often.”
In general, among studies that have recorded the frequency with which people of a certain age participate in sports, higher cognitive performance is associated with the daily use of this sport. But can we say that it is an elixir against Alzheimer’s? “Given that there are no drugs capable of preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases – doctors explain – the conclusions reached over the years by some studies suggest the possibility that figures become a tool between public access for strengthening the mental functions of people with mild cognitive impairment”.
For example, the Harvard Medical School blog points out that, in a 2022 study that investigated the alleged benefits of math on a group of adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, improvements were found in the patients’ cognition. and nerve damage is comparable to the effects of a type of drugs used in the treatment of very minor diseases. A group of British researchers also reached the same conclusions a few years ago. After comparing the mental performance of people over 50 who regularly play Sudoku with those of their peers who rarely do so, the researchers discovered that the improvement reported by the former was comparable to the effects of the drug used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alusaima’s. However, the authors themselves show the need for controlled, long-term trials, which are in short supply, before making important decisions.
The last question answered by the anti-fake doctors portal is: Can we say that sports keep the brain young? “Although one would be tempted to conclude that crosswords help prevent mental age, the scientific evidence we currently have shows some serious issues – experts point out – First, even if we If we are talking about the aging of the education, there is no explanation. on the most probable relationship of studies that show the existence of a link between intellectual age and figures is noteworthy, that is, they only accept the ‘form’ of this relationship, while showing the concentration right reason While waiting for scientific research to produce more solid proofs, there is nothing to stop you from taking your favorite puzzle magazine to the beach, beware, after a few pages, Getting up from a deckchair is the most effective way to protect yourself from the ravages of age.
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