A Crossword a Day Keeps Dementia at Bay

So what are you waiting for?

Can a crossword a day keep dementia at bay? That’s a question that scientists have been battling with for a while. There are a lot of studies that support this hypothesis and a bunch that deny it.

However, what cannot be denied is the pleasure of correctly filling in that last word in a crossword puzzle or the stimulation it provides for your brain.

I used to do crossword puzzles regularly while in university. Two crossword puzzles a day kept me engaged and constantly learning. However, sometime after, my crosswording days fell by the wayside.

I recently rediscovered crossword puzzles and am loving them as much as before. What I discovered anew this time is that crosswording is a skill that can be learned and honed. So whether you are a beginner or an advanced crossworder, the future is bright for you.

Let’s fill in the blanks then, shall we?

It is difficult to conclude with certainty that doing crossword or other puzzles can prevent or delay dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer’s. For that, we would need to show a direct cause and effect. In fact, there are so many other factors at play in a person’s life (such as diet, exercise habits, and frequency of puzzling) that to prove a direct cause and effect is very difficult.

Even if such studies are not conclusive, I, for one, will continue exercising my brain like any other muscle in the body. It can’t hurt, right?

There’s just something about crossword puzzles that makes them accessible to anyone. There are puzzles for any age group and various difficulty levels. No two difficulty levels are the same between different sources. They vary by interest and by topic.

What makes them so versatile and accessible is that they cover multiple subjects within one crossword puzzle. They teach you at every turn and encourage you to look up clues or solutions that you don’t know. What’s wonderful is that no matter how good you get, you will always find a challenge, even if it’s as simple as timing yourself.

Whether you are old school and prefer ink smudges on your fingertips, or technologically adept and prefer an app, our current world can accommodate you. From newspapers to crossword books sold at Indigo to iPad apps and online newspaper crosswords, the world of possibilities is at your fingertips.

I discovered that when I complete crosswords digitally, I have more options when I don’t know a word: I ask for a single letter clue or a word clue. I can also guess a word and the app will show me if it’s incorrect. That’s not something that can be done on paper. However, sometimes nothing can beat the scratch of a pen on paper.

Aside from increasing your vocabulary and improving your spelling, crossword puzzles force you to think outside the box. One single clue could hold multiple meanings. And it is your job to examine all of them in your mind before coming up with a potential solution.

Each clue you struggle over is a learning opportunity. Every new word you learn is now set aside for a future crossword clue. The puzzle educates you about words, places, and names you never knew existed. It bridges cultural divides and language barriers. It prompts you to research topics you never would have otherwise.

Crossword puzzles are for everyone! Whether you do them to stave off cognitive decline, to build your vocabulary, or just for the fun of it, you can’t go wrong. So if you’re bored and have nothing better to do, why not give a crossword a try? Your brain will only thank you!

P.S. Learning through crosswords can also help you slow time. To read more on that, check out the article below:

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