I’ve studied this a lot. The intent of games, etc. is not just to challenge the brain process, although that has some benefit indirectly, but the strongest benefit is to pursue something that requires your brain to lay down new neural pathways - most commonly associated with learning a new skill. Examples are a new language or a technology skill or learning how to do math like they teach 5th graders today 🙂
Or read what they are learning about what can influence Alzheimer’s onset. For instance there’s a large study of Nuns observed. Clue - add folic acid to your supplements. I will put a link to the National Institute of Health review.
Even working complex jigsaw puzzles work out the brain to an extent. Learning how to make a soufflé is a new pathway for most of us.
Eat like smart healthy people eat (do as I say…), Particularly eating smart fats and ingredients as fresh as you can manage.
Walk every day or multiple times a day
Keep a log of new things you’re learning. It doesn’t have to be calculus (thank goodness for that). It just has to be new enough to your brain that when it can’t find it, the process to lay down new pathways is triggered.
Here’s the link to the Nuns’ study. Goood luck. And I am positive MayoConnect has many discussion threads on this topic.
I’ve studied this a lot. The intent of games, etc. is not just to challenge the brain process, although that has some benefit indirectly, but the strongest benefit is to pursue something that requires your brain to lay down new neural pathways - most commonly associated with learning a new skill. Examples are a new language or a technology skill or learning how to do math like they teach 5th graders today 🙂
Or read what they are learning about what can influence Alzheimer’s onset. For instance there’s a large study of Nuns observed. Clue - add folic acid to your supplements. I will put a link to the National Institute of Health review.
Even working complex jigsaw puzzles work out the brain to an extent. Learning how to make a soufflé is a new pathway for most of us.
Eat like smart healthy people eat (do as I say…), Particularly eating smart fats and ingredients as fresh as you can manage.
Walk every day or multiple times a day
Keep a log of new things you’re learning. It doesn’t have to be calculus (thank goodness for that). It just has to be new enough to your brain that when it can’t find it, the process to lay down new pathways is triggered.
Here’s the link to the Nuns’ study. Goood luck. And I am positive MayoConnect has many discussion threads on this topic.
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jan 20 3:33pm
Hello there @uscdad07 I like your screen name. A proud father!
Wow, is right @pb50, good information.
I came across this topic from 2019 - Revisiting Brain Exercises. There seems to be interesting information about MCI and the HABIT program from Dr. Dona Locke about brain exercises. Maybe you can find helpful info throughout. See here -
Hello there @uscdad07 I like your screen name. A proud father!
Wow, is right @pb50, good information.
I came across this topic from 2019 - Revisiting Brain Exercises. There seems to be interesting information about MCI and the HABIT program from Dr. Dona Locke about brain exercises. Maybe you can find helpful info throughout. See here -
Hello there @uscdad07 I like your screen name. A proud father!
Wow, is right @pb50, good information.
I came across this topic from 2019 - Revisiting Brain Exercises. There seems to be interesting information about MCI and the HABIT program from Dr. Dona Locke about brain exercises. Maybe you can find helpful info throughout. See here -
Actually WORDLE is a good game I try toward the end of the day (it changes at midnight) where you have some logic some luck and always fun for some 5 to 15 minutes with the New York Times congratulating you from Magnificent to Impressive to Splendid to Great and finally with a sigh"Phew! if u took all six trials. Not free but I think Times is usually on sale in January or other times for $1/week. Of course great articles/news I find incl on health matters.
Actually WORDLE is a good game I try toward the end of the day (it changes at midnight) where you have some logic some luck and always fun for some 5 to 15 minutes with the New York Times congratulating you from Magnificent to Impressive to Splendid to Great and finally with a sigh"Phew! if u took all six trials. Not free but I think Times is usually on sale in January or other times for $1/week. Of course great articles/news I find incl on health matters.
I was diagnosed with MCI 2 years ago at 52. I have an app on my iPad called MindPal. I find it challenging and fun. It has a variety of games each day that you can play for free, and additional features are available for a monthly fee (I have the free version). This is a partial quote from the game’s description of the science behind their app: “ Think of MindPal as a brain gym in your pocket. MindPal provides you with a personal daily program that adjusts over time to maximize results. Enjoy a variety of games that challenge critical cognitive skills such as memory, attention, language, math, and more. The difficulty of the games adapts to your level, to ensure you are constantly challenged. Track your performance as you play, and get in-depth insights about your brain.”
On the iPad or iPhone MindPal also has Wordle and some additional games from New York Times for free (and the option to pay for more). However my sister has MindPal on an Android device and it does not include Wordle or the other New York Times games.
What I like about MindPal is it measures and tracks your speed, memory, attention, flexibility, language, math and problem solving so you can see what areas you need to work on and how you have progressed over time. I have been playing for about 1 1/2 years and I feel it has helped my brain.
If you go to merriam-webster.com, look for Games & Quizzes. There are variations of the Wordle game, Quordle and Octordle and also practice games so you can have hours of thoughtful mind games!
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I’ve studied this a lot. The intent of games, etc. is not just to challenge the brain process, although that has some benefit indirectly, but the strongest benefit is to pursue something that requires your brain to lay down new neural pathways - most commonly associated with learning a new skill. Examples are a new language or a technology skill or learning how to do math like they teach 5th graders today 🙂
Or read what they are learning about what can influence Alzheimer’s onset. For instance there’s a large study of Nuns observed. Clue - add folic acid to your supplements. I will put a link to the National Institute of Health review.
Even working complex jigsaw puzzles work out the brain to an extent. Learning how to make a soufflé is a new pathway for most of us.
Eat like smart healthy people eat (do as I say…), Particularly eating smart fats and ingredients as fresh as you can manage.
Walk every day or multiple times a day
Keep a log of new things you’re learning. It doesn’t have to be calculus (thank goodness for that). It just has to be new enough to your brain that when it can’t find it, the process to lay down new pathways is triggered.
Here’s the link to the Nuns’ study. Goood luck. And I am positive MayoConnect has many discussion threads on this topic.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12965975/And here is a link to some good games -
with some discussion.
https://www.chenmed.com/blog/connection-between-brain-games-and-dementia-prevention
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7 ReactionsWow! Thanks so much for all the info! I’m sure it will be helpful.
Hello there @uscdad07 I like your screen name. A proud father!
Wow, is right @pb50, good information.
I came across this topic from 2019 - Revisiting Brain Exercises. There seems to be interesting information about MCI and the HABIT program from Dr. Dona Locke about brain exercises. Maybe you can find helpful info throughout. See here -
Revisiting Brain Exercises:
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/newsfeed-post/revisiting-brain-exercises/
Also, several topics relating to MCI here in the MCI blog -
Mild Cognitive Impairment Blog:
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/
Have you come up with any good brain games since posting your question?
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4 ReactionsThanks!
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2 ReactionsYes, I searched You Tube on my TV and found a variety of brain games.
Actually WORDLE is a good game I try toward the end of the day (it changes at midnight) where you have some logic some luck and always fun for some 5 to 15 minutes with the New York Times congratulating you from Magnificent to Impressive to Splendid to Great and finally with a sigh"Phew! if u took all six trials. Not free but I think Times is usually on sale in January or other times for $1/week. Of course great articles/news I find incl on health matters.
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1 ReactionIf you like WORDLE, I have a few more games for you in case you haven’t played these yet:
merriam-webster.com
Quordle and Quordle sequence (4 games at a time)
Octordle and Octordle Sequence (8 games at a time)
Blossom is a great word game.
There’s no fee to play these games and there are archived games so you’re not limited to just one game per day. ☺️
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5 ReactionsI was diagnosed with MCI 2 years ago at 52. I have an app on my iPad called MindPal. I find it challenging and fun. It has a variety of games each day that you can play for free, and additional features are available for a monthly fee (I have the free version). This is a partial quote from the game’s description of the science behind their app: “ Think of MindPal as a brain gym in your pocket. MindPal provides you with a personal daily program that adjusts over time to maximize results. Enjoy a variety of games that challenge critical cognitive skills such as memory, attention, language, math, and more. The difficulty of the games adapts to your level, to ensure you are constantly challenged. Track your performance as you play, and get in-depth insights about your brain.”
On the iPad or iPhone MindPal also has Wordle and some additional games from New York Times for free (and the option to pay for more). However my sister has MindPal on an Android device and it does not include Wordle or the other New York Times games.
What I like about MindPal is it measures and tracks your speed, memory, attention, flexibility, language, math and problem solving so you can see what areas you need to work on and how you have progressed over time. I have been playing for about 1 1/2 years and I feel it has helped my brain.
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Helpful -
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6 ReactionsLori, I have not played wordle but plan to definitely check that out!
Thanks so much!
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1 ReactionHi @uscdad07. It’s really a fun game! But limited to once per day. Here’s the link for Wordle…it’s a freebie! https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html
If you go to merriam-webster.com, look for Games & Quizzes. There are variations of the Wordle game, Quordle and Octordle and also practice games so you can have hours of thoughtful mind games!
Let me know how you like it, ok? ☺️