Mind

Puzzles, learning, and staying curious

• Crosswords vs. Computer Games: What a Real Trial Found

  A 2022 randomized trial directly compared crossword puzzle training against computerized brain-game training in adults with diagnosed mild cognitive difficulty.

  2 minute read · has audio

• What a Study of 3,000+ Older Adults Found About Word and Card Games

  A 2021 study of 3,271 adults aged 65+ looked at whether playing word games (like crosswords) and card or strategy games (like chess) was linked to better thinking ability.

  2 minute read · has audio

• Why We Rotate Eight Kinds of Puzzles

  Practicing one kind of puzzle mostly makes you better at that puzzle — the honest evidence for broader benefit is about variety, not mastery of a single game.

  3 minute read · has audio

• The Whole-Lifestyle Secret: What the FINGER Trial Found

  The strongest evidence for protecting thinking ability does not come from any single brain game — it comes from combining several ordinary habits at once.

  4 minute read · has audio

• Why We Never Add a Timer

  A clock on a puzzle turns thinking into a test — and tests make most people feel worse, not sharper.

  4 minute read · has audio

• What the Research Actually Says About Brain Games

  Brain-training studies show real "near transfer" — you get better at what you actually practice — but not reliable "far transfer" to everyday thinking overall.

  4 minute read · has audio