Puzzles May Delay, But Not Prevent, Dementia, Dutch Expert Says
Amsterdam, Netherlands – A new report suggests that while puzzles can’t prevent dementia, regularly challenging your brain with activities like crosswords, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles may help delay the onset of symptoms. The findings come from Vera Otten, Impact advisor of research at Alzheimer Netherlands, responding to a reader question in the Dutch newspaper Trouw.
Otten explained that lifestyle factors play a role in dementia risk,and keeping the brain active is a key component. “And then we arrive at puzzles. As in addition to healthy eating and sufficient exercise, it is indeed good to keep challenging your brain. And puzzling is an example of this: it is very good for your brain to keep it active and provide stimuli,” she stated in the Trouw article,published in their “The Consult” section.
The benefits extend beyond solo puzzling. Social interaction while puzzling – discussing strategies with a partner, for example – further enhances brain engagement by activating more areas of the brain.
However, Otten cautioned against believing puzzles offer a foolproof shield against the disease.”You can reduce the risk, but it is no guarantee,” she emphasized.
Instead of focusing on prevention, Otten highlighted the potential for delaying the impact of dementia. “We do know that puzzling can be a way to challenge your brain… if you continue to challenge your brain, you also make more connections between brain cells. So if at some point you develop dementia and those connections become fewer, then puzzling gives you another path in your brain that you can use. this allows you to postpone the complaints.”
To maximize the cognitive benefits,Otten advises against routine. “So if you do the same sudoku or the same jigsaw puzzle every day, at a certain point you will do it on autopilot.And then it is indeed no longer a stimulus for your brain.” Regularly switching to new and challenging puzzles is crucial to maintain brain stimulation.
the full article can be found on Trouw’s website: https://www.trouw.nl/gezondheid/kun-je-dementie-tegenhouden-door-te-puzzelen~bd4f6681/.
