How Puzzles, Games Might Help Your Aging Brain

A study published in the British Medical Journal tested the hypothesis that mentally engaging activities, like reading, crosswords, and board games, may help fortify the brain against dementia later in life, reports HealthDay News . The study involved about 500 older British adults who had all taken the same intelligence test when they were about 11; starting at the age of 64, they answered questions about whether they engaged in intellectually stimulating activities. Those who said they enjoyed those hobbies were found to be no less likely to show signs of mental decline over time, compared to other seniors. However, they did, on average, see higher scores on standard tests of mental sharpness. "The results indicate that a lifetime of engagement lifts you to a high point from which you decline, and that can be considered as passive cognitive reserve," said the University of Aberdeen's Roger Staff. "Starting from a high point will mean that the threshold at which you are considered impaired will be farther into the future."