Brain Games

Like exercise for the body, games can help keep the brain active and engaged. However, experts emphasize that games are most beneficial when combined with other activities that support overall brain health.

Dr. Balaji Krishnaiah, UT Health Science Center associate professor of neurology and medical education, notes research suggests that, while they can be useful, brain games do not prevent memory loss on their own. Instead, games help strengthen specific cognitive skills.

Crosswords and word searches “primarily engage attention, language and processing speed, helping to keep the brain mentally active. Regular participation in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with greater cognitive resilience and may help maintain certain thinking skills over time, particularly vocabulary, pattern recognition and mental flexibility,” he says.

Krishnaiah recommends a balanced approach that includes cognitive, physical and social activities.

“Learning new skills, reading, engaging in meaningful conversations, physical exercise and lifelong learning have stronger and more consistent associations with maintaining memory and overall cognitive function than any single type of puzzle alone,” he says.

If you’re looking for a cognitive challenge today to complement other brain-healthy activities, try the games on these pages to test your knowledge of the University of Tennessee.

Download Our Puzzles Printout

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