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It is important to find a cognitive engaging activity that is enjoyable.' “While crossword puzzles may be good, they are not for everyone. 'I tell my patients to buy cognitive engaging activities, such as crossword and sudoku puzzles, as well as engage in art, listen to music, participate in cooking classes, visit museums and attend concerts,” Espinosa says.

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“Regardless, if the alternative is watching TV or scrolling through social media, any form of puzzles will be great.'īut simply having cognitive benefits aren’t enough: puzzles also have to hold a person’s attention and interest in order for them to continue to use them-and that may mean branching out from crossword puzzles.

Mohammed Elamir, specializing in brain health and cognitive function treatments at Aviv Clinics in Florida. “Just like a muscle, the type of workout will depend on the goals of the athlete,” says Dr. When determining which puzzles are best for a person, it depends on their cognitive baseline and individual needs. Also, pay attention to binding: it’s typically much easier to work in a book with spiral binding than one that’s traditionally bound and constantly closing on you while you’re mid-puzzle. If you want something for at-home-use-only, get the crossword tome of your dreams. Where do you plan on doing most of the crossword puzzles? If it’s on the train during your commute or during any type of travel, you’re probably better off with a more compact and lightweight book.

It’s not that one topic is better than the others, but it is something to consider when making a selection. While there are plenty of crossword puzzle books that feature a wide range of topics, there are others that focus on a specific set of knowledge-like food, a period in history, or a particular TV show. If you’re shopping online and can’t page through the book, check out the online reviews to see if any previous customers provided any insight. But other than that, it’s the Wild West of font size-not to mention that a single book could contain puzzles of varying sizes. If a book contains puzzles with large print, that’s usually indicated in the title. Make it easy on yourself and make sure you’re actually able to read the text of the book. There is no “standard” size for a crossword puzzle, nor are there any additional benefits to doing a teeny tiny one you have to squint at to read and complete. Sure, you could whiz through a book designed for 10-year-olds, but where’s the challenge and fun in that? Perhaps opt for two different categories of books: One that is at your current level and provides a relaxing, stress-free leisure activity, and another that’s a true exercise for your brain. It may sound obvious, but get an idea of your own skill level, and/or the one you’re working towards before making your purchase. What to Look for in a Crossword Puzzle Book Difficulty With 200 puzzles, this book would appeal to the Goldilocks of crosswords: someone who likes something that’s not too difficult, not too easy, but somewhere in-between. So, it makes sense to stick with the middle option, “The New York Times Wednesday Crossword Puzzle Omnibus” ( view on Amazon). Given that crossword puzzle preferences are highly individual-taking into account a person’s current skill level, their desired skill level, and their interest in a particular topic-it’s difficult to recommend one book over another.

To help you find the right one, here are the best crossword puzzle books. That’s where crossword puzzle books come in-and there is no shortage of options. “Most people perform the same routines from day to day, and the addition of crossword puzzles as well other word and number puzzles can help the mind with recall, cognition, and focus.”Īnd while crossword puzzles are readily available online, there’s nothing like putting pen (or pencil) to paper and sitting down with an endless (or at least substantial) supply of crossword puzzles at your fingertips. Spencer Kroll, a board-certified internal medicine physician practicing in Marlboro, New Jersey, and crossword puzzle enthusiast. “Crossword puzzles stimulate and exercise neural pathways that may not be normally used as part of daily functioning,” says Dr. The classic brain teasers require players to tap into a body of knowledge they’ve amassed over the years-both academic facts, as well as trivia-in addition to their vocabulary and verbal language skills. Crossword puzzles were a form of ' brain training' before that was even a term. For some people, crossword puzzles are more than a pastime: they’re an important part of maintaining mental sharpness-especially as we age.

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