January 29th is recognized in America as National Puzzle Day - a delightful occasion that celebrates the joy of puzzles and brainteasers. National Puzzle Day is an annual event that encourages people to engage in a wide variety of puzzles and games that challenge their problem-solving skills and creativity. Whether you enjoy solo puzzle-solving or prefer tackling them as a group, this day is all about having fun. But did you know that puzzles also offer an amazing variety of brain health benefits? Here are five of the biggest health bonuses we can get from puzzles:
5. Improved Memory
Solving puzzles helps reinforce existing connections between our brain cells. It also increases the generation of new relationships. This, in turn, improves mental speed and thought processes. Puzzles are especially good for improving short-term memory, which helps us remember shapes and colors and visualize the bigger picture to figure out which pieces will fit together.
4. Better Problem-Solving Skills
The ability to creatively solve problems and think critically is greatly valued in the workforce. Puzzles help us develop all of those important skills.
Puzzles require us to take different approaches to try and solve a problem since there's a lot of trial and error involved. We also learn the value of formulating theories, testing hypotheses, and changing our perspectives when something doesn't work out according to plan. All these skills can easily be transferred to our work life to make us more innovative and adaptable.
3. Improved Mood
Another one of the benefits of puzzles is that they increase our brains' production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and feelings of optimism. It also affects memory, concentration, and motivation. Dopamine is released every time we successfully solve a puzzle — or even just get one piece in the right place. This encourages us to continue working on solving them and challenging ourselves.
2. Lower Stress Levels
At the same time that puzzles challenge us, they also help us to relax. Our brains also go from a "Beta," or wakeful, state to an "Alpha" state when we're solving puzzles. The Alpha state is similar to the state we're in when we're dreaming. This shift in consciousness comes with many benefits, including:
- An ability to make deeper connections
- Improve our mindset
- Relieve stress
- Improve mood
- Increase our self-confidence
1. Delay Dementia and Alzheimer's
Perhaps the most beneficial and important benefit of keeping your brain active with puzzles is that it can help delay the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Multiple studies show that keeping the mind active through puzzles and other problem-solving activities can reduce the amount of brain cell damage that occurs in Alzheimer's patients. It also supports the growth of new nerve cells and strengthens the connections between them. Researchers have also found a correlation between the number of years someone has been solving puzzles and the likelihood that they will develop Alzheimer's. So, the sooner you start making puzzles a regular part of your life, the better. It's never too early to start protecting your brain.
Whether they're jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, or riddles, puzzles have been a source of entertainment and mental stimulation for centuries. National Puzzle Day recognizes their enduring appeal. Summit Medical Group encourages you to get in on the fun - and improve your overall mental health in the process!