Crosswords and brain-training games ‘don’t boost your memory’

IF YOU are struggling over the morning crossword or number puzzles because you think they will improve your fading memory, you might want to think again.

Scientists believe there is no scientific evidence that mental games can provide a ‘short term, easy method’ to help cognitive function.

The brain booster theory has turned the memory-training industry into a lucrative business with apps and computer sites offering pricey subscriptions for games.

But the US researchers say that rather than sitting inside poring over a puzzle, people worried about developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease should get outside and exercise because this can cause beneficial structural changes in the brain and boost its function.

The team, from Florida State University, tested whether doing crossword puzzles and number riddles, and playing braintraining video games boosted volunteers’ memory, reasoning and processing speed.

The researchers, whose study was published yesterday in the journal Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience, focused on whether brain puzzles improved ‘working memory’, which is fundamental to many other areas of our daily lives.

Neil Charness, professor of psychology at the university and an expert on ageing and cognition, said: ‘The thing that seniors in particular should be concerned about is, if I can get very good at crossword puzzles, is that going to help me remember where my keys are? And the answer is probably no.

‘People have real concerns about loss of cognition and memory as they age, so they do all kinds of things to try to stave off cognitive decline. Brain challenges like crossword games are a popular approach, especially among baby boomers.

‘It’s possible to train people to become very good at tasks that you would normally consider general working memory tasks – memorising 70, 80, even 100 digits. But these skills tend to be very specific and not show a lot of transfer.

‘If your real goal is to improve cognitive function and brain games are not helping, then maybe you are better off getting aerobic exercise rather than sitting in front of the computer playing these games.’

however, there is evidence that over the longer term using the brain intensively – for instance by being bilingual or undergoing many years of education – can slow the rate of cognitive decline.

The theory – called ‘cognitive reserve’ – suggests that greater use of the brain gives it more flexibility to work around damage caused by dementia.