Why Crosswords Are a Perfect Brain Exercise for Seniors

Cognitive Benefits of Crossword Puzzles for Seniors

Like most word puzzles and other brain teasers, crossword puzzles also provide significant cognitive benefits for players who solve them on a daily basis. That includes children, young adults, and especially senior citizens as it can potentially delay the onset of memory decline. A study published in the NEJM Evidence has revealed that senior citizens who did play crossword puzzles daily showed a marked improvement in their cognitive skills.

This study compared the difference with other brain teasers and games and showed that playing crossword puzzles on nearly a daily basis showed greater cognitive improvement comparatively. Not only that, a study published by the NIH showed that daily crossword play was directly linked to a 2.5-year delay in individuals with dementia. This was revealed because crossword puzzles not only test an individual’s linguistic skills but also help keep multiple sections of the brain active, making for a healthier brain.

So much so, that studies now recommend that senior citizens should play crosswords, or similar activities, (alongside other treatment options) at least four times a week to help maintain their cognitive function.

The Science Behind Crosswords and Brain Health for Seniors

There’s no denying the cognitive benefits that playing crossword puzzles on a daily basis as they engage multiple areas of the brain. Studies and research have shown that crosswords utilize several areas of the brain, including active recall, pattern recognition, problem-solving, and more. Thus, as a result, this daily mental activity helps maintain brain function and also stops brain aging at the same time.

A study done by researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi revealed that people over the age of 50 and above who had mild cognitive impairment saw improvement and a slower cognitive decline. The reason was that they regularly engaged in activities, like crosswords and word games, that stimulated their brain activity at a high level. This combined with other research showed that crossword puzzles contribute to building a cognitive reserve.

The research suggests that the concept behind a cognitive reserve helps rewire the brain to a certain extent which as a result increases the brain’s functions. This especially helps senior citizens who have diminishing brain functions due to various reasons. However, even then, studies have shown that this is more correlation than direct causation as while crosswords and other brain teasers do help build the brain’s muscle, they only delay the onset of dementia-like symptoms.

Mental Flexibility: Keeping the Brain Sharp with Puzzles

A crucial reason why crosswords help keep the brain sharp is because they demand a lot out of the solver on a daily basis. From engaging multiple areas of the brain to constantly forcing the individual to learn through every puzzle, crosswords task and challenge players who tackle them regularly. But these come with their own benefits including improved cognitive function, improved problem-solving, multi-tasking, and even linguistic skills.

Not only that, it also gives players more mental flexibility and keeps the brain sharp by developing new pathways as crosswords and similar brain teaser puzzles help train the brain. Studies have shown that crosswords in particular demonstrate incredible benefits because they engage multiple areas of the brain. So much so, that regular play can improve cognition by one point on a 70-point scale over 12 weeks which is equivalent to the effects of FDA-approved memory-enhancing medications for Alzheimer's as per a study published on Harvard’s website.

However, crosswords aren’t the only games as Sudoku, chess, and other puzzles and strategy games also help improve not just brain function but also cognitive reserve. This allows the brain to adapt faster and find alternative ways of function which leads to improved mental flexibility.

Easy-to-Access Crossword Resources for Seniors

Thanks to the crossword boom in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the internet is now packed with several free and paid publications as well as websites with crosswords. This includes ease-to-access crossword resources for senior citizens that can be customized and also cater to their skill level. The internet has everything from easier puzzles to tough ones that even challenge the most experienced solvers.

Online platforms like AARP Games Center offer a daily puzzle while bookstores are filled with various print copies of crossword puzzle books for those who prefer doing the puzzle in pen and paper. These books tend to be in large print to make things easier for senior citizens and solvers with poor eyesight. Furthermore, senior centers across the world also tend to provide crossword puzzles as their daily activities given their known cognitive benefits and the fact that it also offers a social setting.