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The solution of crosswords was associated with the preservation of brain functions in old age
Sergey Vasiliev, Naked Science
A large-scale online study has shown that the more often people have fun solving crosswords and other "verbal" puzzles, the slower their brain function declines in old age.
At the international conference of the Alzheimer's Association (AAIC), British researchers led by Professor Clive Ballard of the University of Exeter (Clive Ballard) presented the results of an online study that covered more than 17 thousand generally healthy people aged 50 and over. In addition to questions about the frequency of solving crosswords and other verbal puzzles, scientists used the online test system CogTrack to evaluate key indicators of cognitive activity - attention, memory, thinking.
The authors found volunteers among the participants of the long-term online study PROTECT, in which scientists monitor the life and condition of more than 22 thousand residents of the UK aged 50 to 96 years. With the support of the Alzheimer's Association, the project has been going on for more than 10 years, and its participants are tested annually, allowing scientists to assess the dynamics of their condition, including the development of dementia. According to Professor Ballard, the frequency of solving verbal puzzles and the speed of completing nine key cognitive tests demonstrate a clear positive correlation. Those volunteers who prefer such types of recreation have generally better indicators, and the more they are fond of crosswords, the more noticeable it is.
"We know that many factors involved in the development of dementia can be prevented,– concludes Clive Ballard. – Therefore, it is important to find out which lifestyle elements will really help to maintain brain health longer and delay the onset of the disease. So far, we cannot say that crosswords contribute to this – at the next stage, we need to check how much the introduction of regular solutions to verbal puzzles stimulates brain functions."
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19.07.2017