Your Brain on Sudoku

If you've always dismissed crossword puzzle junkies and Sudoku fanatics as people with geeky tendencies, you should reconsider. Research has revealed that these puzzle enthusiasts may be doing much more than simply testing their trivia knowledge skills when they ponder what the answer for 10 across is – they may also be flexing their athletic muscles. Their brain athletic muscles, that is.

It is no secret that the people who can successfully solve crossword after crossword, Sudoku challenge after Sudoku challenge, and endless chains of numerical problems are at least somewhat intelligent. After all, solving such puzzles takes quite a bit of mental prowess. But research has shown that those who enjoy solving puzzles regularly are not only smart, but also mentally healthier. As people age, their bodies feel the wear and tear of time as well. The mind is not exempt from this equation. Mental deterioration is widespread in the elderly and is often dismissed as senility. However, when the rate and depth of mental deterioration extends beyond just commonplace senility, it becomes senile dementia, which includes the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Those who suffer from dementia exhibit symptoms like constant confusion, memory loss, and mood swings. These symptoms never go away and only intensify and worsen with age. A staggering 7,500 people suffer from Alzheimer's Disease in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is unfortunately incurable, which is why the prevention of mental deterioration is crucial.

There is very little evidence of the exact causes of mental deterioration aside from the process of aging itself, but researchers have found that those who regularly complete puzzles can delay memory loss. Much like how doing abdominal crunches every day will increase ab strength, doing a puzzle every day will increase brain power. Puzzle-solving requires a lot of concentration, which works to build up memory banks that stave off the onset of mental deterioration. In fact, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that people between the ages of 75 and 85 who participated in brain-stimulating activities every day, like solving puzzles and socializing, are likely to offset dementia longer than those who participate in less activities per day. Though college students will not have to worry about senile dementia for a long time, it is never too early to get into the good habit of working through a puzzle on a regular basis.