Among older adults, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often signals an elevated risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Fortunately, an active cognitive lifestyle—engaging regularly in mentally stimulating activities—can slow this progression.
In fact, a review of twenty-two population based studies found that complex mental tasks like reading, playing board games, and solving crossword puzzles were associated with a forty-six percent lower risk of developing dementia over a seven-year period.
Clearly, crossword puzzles aren’t just a pleasant pastime—they could be a valuable tool for protecting brain health.
In a 2022 randomized trial published in NEJM Evidence, researchers compared the effects of computerized brain games versus crossword puzzles in older adults with MCI. Participants who performed crossword puzzles showed greater cognitive improvement compared to the brain game group, especially over time.
On a seventy-point scale used to measure cognitive function, the crossword group improved by about one point after twelve weeks and maintained a meaningful half-point gain after seventy-eight weeks.
That may seem modest, but it’s noteworthy: FDA-approved memory medications for Alzheimer’s disease (like cholinesterase inhibitors) were approved based on an average two-point benefit—and thirty-seven percent of crossword solvers reached that benchmark.
Bottom line: crosswords make it easy to give your brain a workout—so grab a pencil and enjoy the puzzle ahead. Your future self will thank you.
We invite you to join us in a fun and engaging break! The crossword puzzle featured in the May/June 2025 “Longevity & Anti-Aging” edition of Well Being Journal draws from articles throughout this issue. Use the following link to challenge your knowledge and enjoy a mental refresh! https://wellbeingjournal.com/brain-boost-crossword-puzzle/
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Adapted from “Have you done your crossword puzzle today?” by Andrew E Budson, MD. Harvard Health Publishing, November 29, 2022. Available at https://www.health.harvard.edu/
DP Devanand, Terry E Goldberg, Min Qian, et al. “Computerized games versus crosswords training in mild cognitive impairment,” NEJM Evid. 2022 Dec;1(12):10.
