Can Word Search, Crossword Puzzles, and Sudoku Really Help Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes specific changes in the brain that worsen over time and affect the ability to think, remember, reason, and even behave. Therefore, among the prevention options, some experts emphasize mental stimulation through activities that allow people to learn new things and even interact with others. One of the most well-known methods is logic games, such as Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches, which help stimulate cognitive skills and activate brain cells. According to Adrian Owen, a professor of cognitive neurosurgery at Western University in Ontario, Canada, the benefits of these types of hobbies tend to be specific and not generalizable to other mental skills.