Want to Keep Your Brain Sharp? Do These Simple Activities

Turns out your grandma's obsession with crossword puzzles might be onto something.

A new study out of Texas A&M's School of Public Health says older people who regularly do word games, read, or work on hobbies have better memory and cognitive function than those who don't. And this applies even to people already dealing with mild cognitive impairment.

Dr. Junhyoung Kim, who goes by Paul, led the research. He's an associate professor of health behavior at Texas A&M, and he wanted to figure out if activities like puzzles actually help slow down cognitive decline or if that's just something we tell ourselves to feel better about doing the Sunday crossword.

The findings are pretty clear. They do help.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

Kim and researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi and Indiana University looked at data from nearly 6,000 people over 50 who had mild cognitive impairment. These weren't just random participants—they were all part of the Health and Retirement Study, which has been tracking older Americans since 2012.

The researchers asked seven questions about how often people did mentally stimulating activities. Reading. Playing games. Hobbies. Then they split everyone into three groups based on how much they participated: low, mid, and high.

The high-level group—people doing these activities regularly—had consistently better cognitive function throughout the study. Better memory. Better working memory. Better attention and processing speed. They didn't just start out ahead, either. They maintained those levels over time while the other groups declined.

Even the mid-level group did better than the low-level group in some areas. So it's not like you have to be solving the New York Times crossword in pen every single day. But doing something a few times a week seems to make a real difference.

"The high-level participation group consistently exhibited higher cognitive function levels during the study period and maintained a similar level of cognitive functions compared to the other groups," Kim said.

The study followed people from 2012 to 2020, tracking how their cognitive abilities changed over time. Everyone's scores declined a bit, which makes sense—aging happens. But the decline was slower for people who stayed mentally active.

Here's Why This Matters

About six million people in the U.S. have dementia right now. By 2060, that number's expected to hit 14 million. Minority populations are going to be hit hardest. And about 10 percent of people with mild cognitive impairment develop Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia every year.

So if something as simple as reading more or doing jigsaw puzzles can slow that down, even a little, that's huge.

Kim and his team are hoping doctors will start recommending this stuff. Not as a cure or anything magical, but as something practical that could help. They're suggesting people with mild cognitive impairment do these activities at least three to four times a week.

The tricky part is actually making that happen. A lot of older people face barriers. Maybe they don't have enough caregiver support. Maybe they can't afford books or hobby supplies. Maybe they're isolated and don't have access to group activities like game nights.

Kim mentioned that stronger public care services and community support networks could help with that. Libraries, senior centers, community programs—places that offer free or cheap access to mentally stimulating activities.

It's Not Groundbreaking Advice

Everyone sort of knows that keeping your brain active is good for you. But having actual data backing it up makes a difference. It gives doctors something concrete to recommend instead of just vague suggestions about "staying sharp."

The study was published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, which is a real journal and not something Kim made up, despite the slightly on-the-nose title.

Reading counts. Word games count. Puzzles, crafts, hobbies—all of it counts. It doesn't have to be complicated. Just regular engagement with something that makes your brain work a little.

Kim's Research Fills In A Gap

We knew cognitively stimulating activities were probably good for older people, but we didn't have great long-term data on how much they actually help or whether they're useful for people already experiencing cognitive decline.

Now we do. And the answer is yes, they help. Even for people who already have mild cognitive impairment, staying mentally active slows the decline.

So if you've got older relatives who've stopped reading or given up their hobbies, maybe nudge them to pick it back up. Get them a puzzle. Drop off a book. Invite them to game night.

It's not going to stop aging. But it might buy some time. And given what's coming with dementia rates, every bit of time matters.

Did you find this information useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends.