Five Benefits to Doing Crossword Puzzles Regularly:
#1 Crosswords delay memory loss and help alleviate dementia.
When most people ask if crosswords are good for brain health, they’re most likely wondering if crosswords help strengthen memory. Solving crossword puzzles helps delay memory decline by 2.5 years in those who have developed dementia.
#2 Crosswords preserve memory, cognitive function, and overall brain strength.
Researchers found that those who regularly do crosswords have the brain strength of someone 10 years younger than themselves. Scientists and researchers have also found that solvers will get the most cognitive benefits from crossword puzzles by consistently challenging themselves.
#3 You can strengthen your vocabulary and spelling through crosswords.
Crosswords strengthen the vocabulary and spelling of adults and students alike. A larger vocabulary, in turn, can increase your processing speed and your abstract thinking. This kind of mental boost can lead to greater professional success as well.
#4 Solving crosswords as a group strengthens social bonds.
By solving crosswords with friends and family, you’ll strengthen your social bonds through fun and conversation. Social connections help you live longer and improve your quality of life.
#5 Crosswords alleviate anxiety, which will improve your mood.
There are still ways to achieve emotional health benefits from crosswords as a solo solver. For example, more intellectually stimulating exercises might improve anxiety. A study found that people with anxiety were more successful at tasks requiring concentration – such as crosswords – than activities most people consider more “relaxing.”
Even if an apple a day doesn’t necessarily keep the doctor away every day, it also doesn’t hurt. So why not try a crossword today or wait... how about every day?
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FAQs
In addition to the cognitive benefits, crossword puzzles can improve your social bonds and overall quality of life. Solving crossword puzzles with friends or family members can be a fun and engaging way to spend time together.
What kind of health is answering crosswords and puzzles? ›
First, doing crossword puzzles is difficult, and many studies have shown that performing moderately difficult cognitive tasks is helpful for cognitive and brain health.
Do crosswords help Alzheimer's? ›
A 9% reduced risk of dementia among among people who did active mental activities, such as crossword puzzles or playing games, cards, or chess. A 7% reduced risk of dementia among people who said they paint or draw, or do craftwork, woodwork, or metalwork.
What is the importance of crossword puzzles? ›
Improves mental functions: Research has shown that regularly completing crossword puzzles can improve your ability to focus on any desired task and improve both your working memory and executive function. All these skills are able to improve one's ability to successfully navigate everyday life's challenges.
Do crosswords have benefits? ›
When students use crosswords as a study tool, they have been found to show greater enjoyment of course content and an increased ability to recall terms. Those who solve crosswords on a regular basis show improvements in short-term memory, working memory and brain health in general.
Are crossword puzzles good for the aging brain? ›
They perform better on reasoning, attention, and memory tasks. The study also showed that seniors who often complete crosswords and other word-based puzzles have a brain function equivalent to that of a person ten years younger.
What do crosswords do to your brain? ›
Beyond that, Pillai says, “there is a hypothesis that [doing crossword puzzles] improves working memory or one's ability to keep multiple things in mind at the same time.” This improved memory reserve, the thinking goes, could compensate for some of the losses in cognitive function caused by the onset of dementia.
How beneficial is doing puzzles for the human health? ›
Working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve short-term memory. Puzzles increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration.
Do crossword puzzles help with anxiety? ›
Stressors in life can vary in their source, but word puzzles (including crosswords) can be a way to relieve stress by offering a valuable way to relax. By taking little breaks absorbed in completing your daily puzzle, it can help you to feel happier and calmer.
What are the mental exercises to avoid dementia? ›
Examples of brain-challenging games can include chess, tabletop games, video games, word and number puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku and memory games. For games on your computer, your tablet or your phone, find games where you can play and interact with other people.
Crossword puzzles, word games, word searches, anagrams, and more focus on language, word recall, and word arrangement—all beneficial for warding off dementia in older adults. The more recently viral game Wordle is another beneficial brain game that can stimulate activity that protects brain function.
Do puzzles fight dementia? ›
He noted that research indicates that even patients with advanced dementia can benefit from what he calls “mental exercise” — anything that engages multiple parts of the brain at once. “Reading, puzzles, art, conversation, games, and work are just a few examples.
What is good about crosswords? ›
They increase your knowledge base. You won't just learn new words when you complete crossword puzzles regularly; you'll also learn new things in general, especially if you work with other people to solve difficult puzzles. Most crossword puzzles contain a wide variety of trivia.
Are word searches good for your brain? ›
"Unfortunately, there's really no conclusive evidence supporting that word games and puzzles benefit the brain over time," says Dr. Tanu Garg, a neurologist at Houston Methodist. For instance, studies haven't shown that they help prevent memory loss or reduce the risk of developing dementia.
What is the most used word in crossword puzzles? ›
Don't be intimidated by crossword puzzles. “ERA” is the most common entry in crosswords, as well as “ARE,” “AREA,” and “ORE.” If a clue is in plural, the word will probably end in “S.” “Cheating” by checking a letter or word is encouraged if you're stuck.
Are puzzles healthy for the brain? ›
Working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve short-term memory. Puzzles increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration. Dopamine is released with every success as we solve the puzzle.
Is it good to do crossword puzzles before bed? ›
All of those things are great to do, but puzzles before bed assist in melting any mental stress. For people like me, (a homebody on the introvert side) it's easy to get mentally exhausted and drained from things that happened during the day. So at night, I like to use my mind in a strengthening and positive manner.
How many calories do you burn doing a crossword puzzle? ›
Our brain requires 0.1 calories every minute simply to survive when we do something challenging such as a puzzle or a quiz or sum brain-teasers we can burn through 1.5 calories ever minute, thus, doing puzzles and quizzes burn as average of 90 calories every hour, its helps to gain and sharpens the memories.
Do crosswords train your brain? ›
Crosswords may help with a brain function called fluency, or word finding. Fluency is a type of process based in the speech and language centers of the brain. But watch out: Only crosswords that challenge you can help your brain improve its function.
