“Do a puzzle or ‘this’ twice a week!”…Improve cognitive function even as you age

Cognitive decline is a natural part of the aging process that occurs as we age, but mild cognitive impairment is often considered a precursor to dementia. The conversion rate from mild cognitive impairment to dementia is approximately 10% per year. Mild cognitive impairment that does not significantly interfere with daily life is characterized by a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking ability.

Medications to prevent this cognitive decline often have side effects and may not be suitable for long-term use. Accordingly, treatments that include mentally stimulating activities are receiving attention.

A study published in the international journal Journal of Cognitive Enhancement found that older adults who regularly participated in mentally challenging activities such as reading or puzzles maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed. It was found that it does.

Researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi analyzed data from a large, ongoing survey called the Health and Retirement Study, which collects detailed information on older Americans. We looked at 5,932 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, focusing on data from 2012 to 2020. Participants were divided into three groups based on their level of participation in cognitively stimulating leisure activities: high, moderate, and low. These levels were determined by how often participants engaged in activities such as reading, playing games, and solving puzzles.

Cognitive function was measured using three domains: memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed. Memory was assessed using tests of immediate and delayed recall of words, and working memory was measured by asking participants to subtract numbers in order. Attention and processing speed were assessed using a backward counting task.

The study found that cognitive function naturally declined over time in all participants, consistent with the typical aging process. However, people who participated more frequently in cognitively stimulating activities consistently had better cognitive function than those in the less involved group. The group that participated in cognitively stimulating activities two or more times a week consistently showed better memory, working memory, and attention than the group that participated less actively. Participants in the high-involvement group maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed over the eight-year study period.

“Cognitive treatment programs require a comprehensive design that includes physical activity, cognitively stimulating activities, and community participation,” the researchers said. “A balanced treatment strategy that integrates all of these healthy behaviors requires a focus on a single domain.” “It will promote cognitive health benefits rather than matching,” he said.