Playing MIND GAMES to sharpen your brain

Warning: topping up the in-laws’ Christmas stockings with a sudoku book, while an easy win for you, is unlikely to deliver any brain gains. Testing your mental mettle with mind games doesn’t actually improve cognitive function in the way that researchers first thought, according to a new report from the Global Council on Brain Health. It turns out that learning a skill, playing an instrument or gardening are much more effective at keeping those cogs turning. Now to perfect wrapping a trowel.