ActiveAging

1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, March 28, 2021 15 tiple cognitive functions. To put pieces in their proper place and reveal the final big picture, you must recognize patterns, discern colors and shapes, use your memory and “rotate” pieces in your mind to determine where they do and don’t fit. The more complex a pic- ture is and the more pieces a puzzle has, the more your brain will work to solve Provided by Koelsch Communities Just as weightlifting builds muscles, many experts agree that doing brain ex- ercises helps strengthen your mind as you age. But beware: Digital diversions are ev- erywhere, even for older adults. Research shows that Americans ages 60 and older have increased their screen time by nearly 30 minutes a day over the past decade. While scrolling through news feeds and playing mobile games might be men- tally stimulating, spending hours falling down a digital rabbit hole can disrupt sleep, cause headaches and eye strain, and create other physical problems. Shutting down your smartphone, tablet and com- puter to do old-school puzzles and games is an easy trade-off that curbs screen time and helps boost your brainpower. Follow these ideas to get started. Crossword puzzles, sudoku and word finds Playing mobile word games is undeni- ably fun, but traditional newspaper sub- scribers may argue that there’s something special about the look, smell and feel of actual newsprint. Sitting down with a pencil or pen to do the local paper’s daily or weekly crossword puzzle engages mul- tiple senses, cuts screen time and gives your brain a workout. A Harvard Health report suggests that brain-stimulating challenges such as crosswords “may help sharpen certain thinking skills that tend to wane with age, such as processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision making and short-term memory.” Likewise, doing number puzzles like sudoku flexes mem- ory functions, engages logical reasoning skills and helps increase concentration. If you don’t get the paper, you can buy crossword, word finds, sudoku or variety books with hundreds of different puzzles online or at a supermarket or bookstore. Tackling new mental challenges is also good for brain health, so be sure to mix up puzzles you love with ones you’ve never tried. See the big picture with jigsaw puzzles Doing a jigsaw puzzle engages mul- ACTIVE AGING Boost brainpower with old-school puzzles and games GETTY IMAGES See Games, page 17 *Certain Age Restrictions apply. Call for details. CROSSROADS SENIOR LIVING NOW OPEN! TUKWILA VILLAGE Phase 2 NOW PRE-LEASING! Book a tour today! Call 833-887-7424 No Income Restrictions No Income Restrictions Enjoy decks, terraces, fitness center, community rooms, media room, garage parking, gardens, community van, pet friendly and more right outside your door! Find more information at housing4seniors.com The Way Senior Living Should Be