According to both the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and Alzheimer’s Association, there are a few key things you can do to maintain brain health as you age. One is to stay physically active to encourage the formation of new brain cells through neurogenesis. Another would be implementing a healthy diet full of antioxidants, such as leafy green vegetables and fruits, to protect existing brain cells. Finally, it’s crucial to stay mentally active by engaging in regular brain exercises. Check out these 4 that we highly recommend below!
Chess
Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer… these are some of the names that come to mind when you think of the game of chess. Although you don’t have to be a master to have some fun with the game, you’ll still be able to train your working memory and improve upon your brain’s executive functions, as you plan and strategize your next move. Not only is chess mentally challenging and complex, but it will also help you with your decision-making and concentration skills.
Crossword Puzzle
When it comes to minimizing cognitive decline, crosswords have been declared the go-to solution. These puzzles contribute to the development of memory and attention skills, as well as increased fluency in the ability to find words. Why? Well, when completing a crossword puzzle, you have to fill up the rectangular grid of white and black-shaded squares with letters that form words or phrases by solving the clues included below the puzzles. Pretty self-explanatory, but nonetheless, challenging!
Sudoku
Sudoku has become one of the most popular brain training games within the past two decades. Like crossword puzzles, you can find sudoku puzzles in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USAToday, and The Washington Post. In a classic game of sudoku, the objective is to fill a 9x9 grid with digits so that each row, column, and 3x3 subgrids contains all digits from 1 to 9. In terms of brain health, sudoku helps you stay sharp and reduces the chances of Alzheimer’s by keeping your brain active.
Concentration
Concentration is a game that goes by many names, like Match Match, Matchup, Memory, or simply Pairs. Cards are laid face down on a surface, while two cards are flipped over at every turn. The object of the game is to eventually turn over pairs of the matching cards. Similar to the other games discussed in this blog, Concentration will improve memory recall, focus, and concentration, making tasks that are typically difficult to handle, a little easier in the long-run.
As the saying goes, knowledge is power – and, at Oxford at the Ranch Apartments in Waller, Texas, we couldn’t agree more! We hope that this blog has presented you with the valuable information that you were seeking out.