My mil does puzzles every day convinced they are going to help her starve off dementia
I admit to doing an hour of all different kinds of puzzles - word, number, and spacial relations puzzles every day and always have a book that I’m reading.
My mom developed ALZ in her 60s and died at 78. My grandmother lived to be 94 and only had some age related dementia at the very end. My grandmother did puzzles and read novels every single day. Anecdote of one, but I’m willing to do the puzzles just in case.
And I enjoy them!
I have similar genetics. But I do not believe that Alzeimers can be controlled by puzzles. If that would the case we would not have so many people with Alzeimers. Actually some very smart and active people get Alzeimers too unfortunately.
For sure…but I’m eating right, exercising, and doing mental activity. I figure it can’t hurt and there is some literature that shows that it can postpone symptoms for a few years and help with language recall.
My dad died at 84 and had no signs of any dementia. He was a reader, very physically active, good diet, etc.
My mom passed at 86 after showing signs of dementia since her late 70’s. She was able to function pretty well until the last year or so. She was an avid reader, but little interest in puzzles/games, etc. She was not physically active and became progressively more introverted as she aged.
So I have no idea what that means for me. I am not a person who believes that genetics control everything so I do my best with puzzles/games (which I enjoy), reading, good diet, exercise, socializing, etc.I control what I can.
H’s aunt did crossword puzzles “like it’s her job,” as the family said. She did develop dementia in her early-mid 90’s. Maybe the puzzles staved off the inevitable. Maybe not. But she enjoyed doing them.
I love doing all sorts of puzzles - crossword, Sudoku, NYT games, games on/against my computer (Scrabble, Free Cell, Spider Solitaire). I just really like figuring things out. Whether or not it keeps me from getting dementia is irrelevant for me. It is something that makes me happy.
Me too!
I especially like the logic puzzles from the puzzle books I buy at the drugstore. I think I have about 15 puzzle books on my shelf right now!
There is a classic longitudinal study called “the nun study” that has followed a group of nuns since the mid 80’s . Some may have had slightly different educational experiences but most of the other variables (age, lifestyle, no spouses or children, etc) are controlled and similar. They have found that higher education and “higher idea density” (concepts, vocabulary, etc even in speech and writing) correlated with greater cognitive sparing.
From what I recall (haven’t followed the literature lately) cognitive games, apps, etc were/are helpful to keep us and our brains active, but there was not compelling data to suggest that they had any sparing effect. But cognitive and physical exercise is important for our aging selves.
Does Candy Crush count?! 
Hopefully playing chess on-line will have a similar positive effect.
I know a few very intelligent people who were still actively involved in lives that required logical thinking and reasoning when they were diagnosed with dementia. Puzzles would never have helped. But then there is my MIL, who has stopped doing anything that requires logic or reasoning. She is the poster child for use it or lose it, and she’s losing it. What I hope to avoid by continuing to do things that challenge my brain is to keep what has happened to MIL from eventually happening to me.
I have been doing a Mensa card game called SET. You’re supposed to play it with other people, but I do it by myself and time it. It’s a game of visual perception, which is something I’ve always been good at. I don’t know if it helps my brain or if it’s a waste of time, but it is calming to me.
What does cognitive sparing mean? (Not challenging, trying to learn).
Cognitive sparing generally in this context refers to saving/protecting from cognitive decline
My daughter and my niece were obsessed with SET. Playing with them is like competing in Olympics with one foot. You never can catch up 
.
But it is fun for sure. I just Googled. That game was invented in 1974. Published in 1991. Became popular much later. I think we got it like 12 years ago.
My husband refuses to play with me, so I’m on my own. I do wonder if it helps the brain in any way, or just useless time wasting.
You know that there is online version…
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