Sudoku to keep the brain active? “It’s not the solution,” explains neurologist

Seja Sudoku, crossword puzzles, letter soup or games like that, there are several activities in which many people rely to keep the brain active. Some of them are even used at this time of summer. However, are they the best option for your cognitive health? “It’s not the solution,” explains a Harvard neurologist.

This type of puzzle is linked to a simple way of keeping the brain active especially at a time of vacation. Still, Álvaro Pascual-Leone, a Harvard neurologist, quoted here by HuffPost in an interview with Cadena SER, warns that no single type of exercise can prevent cognitive decline, despite some benefits that these activities bring to some people.

The expert is of the opinion that keeping the brain active depends on a set of factors and challenges throughout life. It's something very different than repeating the same kind of activity every day.

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Is Sudoku the solution? Look at that

“ That's not the answer. There is no magic formula”, revealed in the interview. This kind of activity alone does not help maintain good brain health. It is of the opinion that these games can bring benefits to some people over 70 years of age.

Still, its real effect is dependent on other factors and contexts. Claims it ceases to be a brain training when it becomes an automatic activity. It deduced from demanding an effort to actually stimulate the brain.

Álvaro Pascual-Leone believes more than other activities bring more benefits and eventually contribute more to stimulating cerebral plasticity. “Continue to challenge yourself to learn new things, as were done in kindergarten”, reveals the expert.

It says that this is how it can help the brain adapt to the changes associated with aging and maintain its functions better. It also insists on another type of activities and habits that can be beneficial, such as sleeping well, exercising well, maintaining a balanced diet and betting on social relationships.

“These habits directly impact brain function, much more than looking for a single activity capable of preventing cognitive decline. Taking care of the brain is much more than solving a Sudoku every day.”

Neurologists warn of habit that ages the brain faster

To EatingWell several neurologists point out that drinking alcohol may be impairing their cognitive function. In this case, it is about regular consumption and not that drink that you sometimes only drink on the weekend, for example.

How does alcohol affect the health of the brain?

“A habit that many people underestimate, but that can quietly impair healthy aging of the brain, is regular alcohol consumption, especially nighttime consumption, excessive alcohol consumption or alcohol use to relax or deal with stress,” Lynette Gogol says.

“Alcohol is a neurotoxin, which means it can negatively affect the function of brain cells, white matter pathways that bind to different parts of the brain and ultimately to the very size of the brain,” says Zack Ramilevich.

They also point out that alcohol consumption is usually more accepted than tobacco, but the effects on the brain can be equally harmful.