Brain Games 

Mary Ann

When you suddenly can’t remember a name or recall a word that is on the tip of your tongue, you begin to panic that you are getting early onset Alzheimers.  At our age, it probably would not be early onset.  It is just old age. 

It is frightening to think that you might be losing your mental faculties.  It is hard enough to deal with the aches and pains of aging and then be fearful that you will fall for a scam giving all your money away or be in a permanent brain fog.  So, what can you do about it?  

The experts would tell you to learn new things, get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, have social connections, and challenge your brain in novel ways.  Even in old age, the brain can adapt, learn, and build new connections between nerve cells.  This is called neuroplasticity. 

People with mild cognitive impairment can do many things to improve their mental skills.  They can “exercise” their brains with activities that require thinking, remembering, focusing, learning, and problem solving.  The secret is to challenge yourself.  There are lots of computerized cognitive games that you can do on your computer, iPad, or phone.  You can learn a new language or a musical instrument. Take up any new artistic endeavor.  Write a journal and read everything.  Take classes.  I Zoom classes all the time – a previous blog detailed this. The activity should be novel, test you, and be enjoyable so you will continue with it. 

Crossword puzzles are always mentioned.  However, I cannot spell so that makes it doubly hard for me.  I can look at a word and know it is misspelled, but if I must generate the word, it will take me several tries if I ever get it.  I have taken to doing Word Searches or Find-A-Word puzzles which I find relaxing.  After years of teaching, I can read words upside down and backwards which is necessary to do the searches. This comes from looking at students’ papers from the other side of the desk.  That learned skill has finally come in handy.  Who knew?  

I also like to do Hidden Picture Puzzles.  I guess I always loved the Highlight magazine’s Hidden Pictures that we found in the dentist office. The company Brain Games has a wonderful selection of all kinds of brain games.  The Scavenger Hunt books from them are challenging but lots of fun.  The Find the Cat books are hard.  Kitties are tricky.  

If you like numbers, there is sudoku.  I have a variation of the puzzle that is a wooden board with colored balls.  It looks easy, but it is very thought-provoking.  There is a game for every interest and attention span.  You just need to find something of interest to you.  You can sign up for expensive online courses or go to Dollar Trees and stock up on Word Searches. And of course, Amazon has endless brain games.

I start everyday with prayers, meditations, readings, and brain games.  I am hoping that it is all helping my brain.  At least, I am trying, and it is all enjoyable.  It is nice to kill two birds with one stone – exercising the brain and having fun doing it!  Join me in making a difference in your brain and in your life.