Birds fly, fish swim, humans speak. Language is our unique invention and one of the reasons our brains grew so big. Here’s 4 ways word games keep that big brain healthy and strong.
1. Word games make your brain bigger.
Harvard studied all of the best ways to keep your brain young, and while a healthy diet and lifestyle were key, number one factor on the list was mental stimulation!
“Through research with mice and humans, scientists have found that brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological “plasticity” and building up a functional reserve that provides a hedge against future cell loss.
Any mentally stimulating activity should help to build up your brain. Read, take courses, try mental gymnastics, such as word puzzles.”
Word puzzles can help generate new brain cells? We’ve got one waiting for you at the end of this post. Congrats on an already bigger brain.
2. Word games make your brain younger!
A study involving crosswords discovered a “direct relationship between the frequency of word-puzzle use and the speed and accuracy of performance on nine cognitive tasks assessing a range of aspects of function including attention, reasoning, and memory.”
The researchers discovered that word-puzzle fans have brain function equivalent to someone 10 years younger. The participants who engaged with word puzzles the most performed best on attention, reasoning, and memory tests than their counterparts, who didn’t use word puzzles.
3. Word games are great for expanding and encouraging creativity.
Dr. Cynthia R. Green states ‘Such activities get us to “stretch” our thinking. Word games get us to make new connections, and give us the chance to think outside of our mind’s box.’
4. Word games are great stress relievers.
Science has proven that gaming reduces stress and the harmful effects of cortisol.
Here’s a study on how it works.
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