Proof that puzzles can reverse cognitive impairment
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Scientists have proven for the first time that simple activities and small lifestyle changes can reverse cognitive impairment.
Puzzles, learning new skills and social interaction have been linked with maintaining cognitive function.
Now – in the first large-scale trial in community settings – researchers have found that even very brief brain stimulating activities, alongside physical activity and a healthy diet, have a significant impact.
They studied more than 11,500 people aged 60 to 85 with mild to severe cognitive impairment. After 12 months, 28 per cent of study participants no longer had cognitive impairment.
Paul Little, Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton and study co-lead, said: “This is the first large trial to test brief interventions over a sustained period with people recruited in primary care via GPs and nurse practitioners. We have shown that simply giving advice and pointing people towards brain stimulating activities has a real impact. That’s important because it can happen with minimal input and cost. Previous trialled interventions have been shorter term and requiring a lot more resource from health service providers.”
Participants in the study were split into three groups. Members of the first group (the control group) were asked about their brain stimulating activities, their cognitive function was tested and they were given brief advice about how to protect cognitive health via physical activity, a heathy diet and brain stimulating activities.
Brain stimulating activities are things that engage the brain to think, learn and be social – such as puzzles, online brain training games, playing a musical instrument, singing in a choir, learning a new language, and social activities and interaction.
“We thought there would be relatively little effect from this, but there was in fact a big effect,” explained Professor Little. “After 12 months, 28 per cent of people in this first group no longer had cognitive impairment.”
