The brain controls all body functions and thought processes. It is the most vital organ in the body. Good nutrition and exercise are just as good for the brain as any other organ in the body. Brain exercises serve many functions; they help memory, improve cognitive functioning (our ability to learn new things) and lower the risk of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Sodoku
Sodoku is a puzzle game similar to crossword puzzles. It is played on a grid using numbers. There are rows across and down that add up to 9. The grid is also composed of cells that must add up to 9. All the rows across, down and in the cell must use each number from 1 to 9 only once. Math skills are not necessary to play sodoku. A logic puzzle has varying levels of difficulty. The Alzheimer's Disease Research program supports games like sodoku to exercise the brain and boost memory. Watch out, it can become addicting.
Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles stimulate memory. They cause the player to focus on remembering. This exercises the brain and according to the Mayo Clinic, exercising the brain helps prevent memory loss. The University of Michigan Health System recommends thinking of related facts to jog the memory.
Crossword puzzles are played on grid, like sodoku. There are some squares blacked out. The rows of open squares across and down are numbered with clues listed to help figure out what words fit into the squares. The letters must agree across and down. Sometimes there is a theme to the puzzle and a secret word or phrase to guess.
Card Games
The American Academy of Neurology recommends card games to exercise the brain and stave off memory loss and dementia. There are varieties of card games from solitaire, played with one person, to games for large groups of people where the players rotate after a certain amount hands.
Bridge is a popular game played with one deck of cards and four people. Score is kept and there is a complex bidding structure. The players play in teams. Poker is another card game where everyone plays against each other. Players bid on whether the have the best hand in a series of bidding rounds. The goal of the game is to win the pot. Other card games include hearts, war and Gin Rummy. There are hundreds of different card games that can be played solo or with any number of people. They can be played in person or online.
Online Games
Online brain games have become popular with the rise of the Internet. There are different websites that offer brain games using word recognition, pattern recognition and math problems. They train for memory, flexibility, speed and problem solving. Some websites charge a fee and require registration while others are free. The Alzheimer's Foundation offers free online brain games.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: Maintain Your Brain
- British Medical Journal: Mental Activity May Help Prevent dementia
- American Academy of Neurology: Brain Exercises May Delay Memory Decline in Dementia
- University of Michigan Health System: Memory and Aging
- Mayo Clinic: Exercise Your Brain to Prevent Memory Loss
