Authors of a large-scale study have confirmed that challenging mental tasks help maintain brain health as we age. The most accessible and popular activities include solving puzzles, deciphering crosswords, and reading books.
Researchers also determined the optimal weekly amount of crosswords and other cognitive exercises that can benefit an aging brain.
What the Researchers Found
A team from the University of Southern Mississippi, Texas A&M University, and Indiana University (USA) studied data from 5,932 individuals aged 50 and older over eight years. All participants had mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The scientists conducted observations through surveys as part of the extensive Health and Retirement Study project.
Depending on how frequently participants engaged in cognitively stimulating activities (CSLA) during their leisure time, they were assigned one of three levels of engagement: low, medium, or high. Activities included reading, writing, games (such as chess), crosswords, puzzles, and hobbies.
The researchers found that the group with a high level of engagement in CSLA demonstrated the best cognitive abilities throughout the study period. As noted by lead author Junghen Kim from Texas A&M University, the benefits in this group pertained to memory, attention, and the speed of cognitive processing. Additionally, participants in this group performed better than others on standard cognitive tests, according to Science Alert.
While cognitive decline was evident in all three groups, it progressed more slowly among those with a high level of engagement in CSLA. This suggests that regular activities that keep the mind sharp can help combat brain aging, with the most significant effects observed in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
The researchers believe that the optimal frequency for cognitive activities that maintain mental sharpness is three times a week, although more is better.
The team emphasized that positive lifestyle changes play a more significant role in improving cognitive functions in older adults than medication.
Since mild cognitive impairment often precedes more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, this new research could help identify treatment methods that delay the onset of dementia. This is critically important as the global population ages and the number of elderly individuals with these conditions continues to rise.
The study’s findings were published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.
Interestingly, several previous studies have established a link between mental challenges, such as puzzles, and protection against cognitive decline.