Do you mind your mind?
Seems as though when I run into old friends — and even as I make new friends ― inevitably the topic of conversation turns to ageing parents and our own health. I love to see how each person approaches the care of their parent or parents differently. Another interesting aspect is to see how other individuals as they age starting planning for their later years before their health failed (something I really wish my father had done). One childhood friend who helped his mother to stay in her own home with help bought her an I-pad loaded with mind games. In just four weeks, he noticed a difference in her mental alertness. Of course, I perked right up when I heard that and downloaded a few mind game apps myself.
Can brain games prevent or delay dementia in older adults? According to one study by the American Medical Association, puzzles, card games, chess and adult education classes can reduce the risk of developing dementia over the age of 70 by as much as 11%. Other beneficial word games that can stimulate activity to protect brain function include crossword puzzles, word searches, anagrams, sudoku puzzles, and word recall.
I am a fan of Wordle, which my partner and I play regularly over our morning coffee. It is a slightly addictive word game. Wordle players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word, with feedback given for each guess in the form of colored tiles indicating when letters match or occupy the correct position. It is a fun word game. I’m glad the NYT releases only one Wordle game a day, or I may never get my chores done in the morning. You can also play Wordle in a foreign language through Duolingo. Duolingo is a language learning app that I was introduced to recently to learn a foreign language. The app uses game- like methods and is very well done.
Did you know that learning a foreign language has been found to increase the size of the parts of your brain that are responsible for learning and memory? A study carried out by researchers in Sweden compared the brains of members of the Swedish armed forces before and after they underwent accelerated language training. The brain scans of the army recruits were compared to those of medical students at a local university, and after just three months, the military brain scans showed growth in the brain's language and memory processing areas. The brains of the medical students remained unchanged. The findings suggest that learning a second language keeps the brain’s mental processing functions healthy and in good shape.
If learning a foreign language doesn’t interest you, what about considering some other types of mental stimulation? Perhaps consider an activity that engages creativity and dexterity, like scrapbooking. There are a variety of brain games or active mental activities that suit many different abilities, and most can be enjoyed almost anywhere on your phone or a tablet. If playing games are not your cup of tea, consider attending a class or joining a book club.
So you go to the gym to exercise your body. Good for you. You need to remember that your brain is ever-present and needs its own workouts. Take it for a spin every day. If you want to stay smart longer, mind your mind.
Feel free to share your thoughts with me: ashton@ashtoncannon.com.
Ashton Graham is an educator, book publisher, photographer, cowgirl and yoga enthusiast. She is currently studying to become a certified yoga therapist and lives on a ranch in West Texas.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Do you mind your mind?
