I still love doing crossword puzzles; never did it as “brain therapy,” though. Thanks for your vitamin D explanation to Terry Hilsberg in the Comments section, since that one seems all the rage in recent years. Many thanks for your clarifying and informative articles.
Your reasons for why to be skeptical about these findings are not well thought out or particularly original. The idea that it is implausible that behavior alters neurobiology ignores probably tens of thousands of findings. Entire fields of study are based on this premise. Saying that this or that research question isn't worthy of study is an odd mindset, and quite frankly in this case one that I don't think you are qualified to make. All of your other concerns about effect size, clinical significance, etc etc are generic criticism that apply to many studies.
Scrabble played with people who are not particular about correct spelling is better than crossword puzzles. Funner and requires recognition of letters. And i believe you said they did the test using crossword puzzles on computers showing the lack of understanding of the subject group.
Always enjoy reading your articles Dr. Cifu. My 98-year-old mom has been addicted to crosswords since childhood. She's independently living in senior housing where they do all the meals and housekeeping. I can't point to much of anything except good genes to explain her abilities. She must do 2-3 crosswords daily and kicks butt in Scrabble. She is losing memory but very slowly!
Vit D is linked to calcium absorption for bone mineralization and renewal. Aging reduces Vit D production in the skin. Despite being an outdoor enthusiast I learned my D level was quite low after breaking a femur in a minor fall. Should have been tested much earlier for bone density and D levels than 65.
The headline drew my attention immediately because I don’t want to be asked to do puzzles. I like them ok, but 4 years ago we downsized and I have no place for a 500 or 1000 piece puzzle littering my space. I’d rather be working on sewing projects.
I’m 71 in a few weeks. Here are some of my observations about my mental decline, word finding, loosing a thought once I have the attention of my listener, recognition of place, sometimes faces, but not faces I know well. These phenomena aren’t that nice but I’m not sure what to do about them so I try to release these things from my mind. From what’s I know of neuroscience and myself I suspect worry, depression and isolation may be a contributor to cognitive decline. It seems possible that exposure to chemicals (so many and so many chemical combinations in my lifetime to soil, air & water) may have an effect, and one that might be involved with other body systems. I’ve been studying neuroscience since my 20’s and used it in my work as an ergonomist. It is fascinating. Out bodies are endlessly fascinating.
I enjoyed your wit. I hope to look at more of your entries. I seek to find your definitions of, for instance, churnalism et al. I’ll look for your podcast. Thanks for your thoughts and the time you took to post them.
If keeping the mind active actually does prevent things like dementia and cognitive decline, I would think we have a natural experiment running right now. The near universalism of smartphones and their constant need for attention would seem to be the obvious way to make it work.
Perhaps we should look at how those who didn’t grow up with smartphones and people who did. See if there’s any differences between the two in cognitive outcomes.
The use of change from baseline is a violation of the RCT design. A parallel-group RCT should compare parallel groups, not compare change from baseline. Baseline should only appear as an adjustment covariate, which unlike the authors' analysis will handle floor and ceiling effects and regression to the mean.
[iii] is my mantra. If I get demented I won’t know it so meantime I’ll do my best to hydrate, eat correctly to the best of my ability, exercise, and avoid articles that suggest medical miracles.
Thank you for allaying my fears. I have never liked crossword puzzles and have never done them.
I remember a neuro scientist being interviewed on the radio about his research ( probably 10 or so years ago likely NPR) At the end of the interview the radio host asked the question “What’s the best exercise for the brain?” The scientist answer,”take a walk outside everyday”. I remember the host being taken aback and replied something like “that’s it?”(not those exact words but the sentiment). He was very low key throughout the interview and explained in the same simple manner that walking helps circulation and your brain gets stimulated more outdoors.
Will walking outside cure Alzheimer’s, probably not but it’s at least as stimulating as a crossword and has many other health benefits.
"Alzheimer’s there is an overproduction and/or decreased clearance of amyloid beta peptides. The pathogenesis also involves the hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of the tau protein."...is this the now-becoming debunked theory of Alzheimer's and the amyloid proteins? I have been reading about the possible lies the research in pharmacological intervention has been going on...with all their eggs in one basket?
Hasn't the fraud around Sylvaine Lesne's research and the failure of all drugs targeting amyloid or tau, and the realization that many patients with amyloid or tau have no dementia cast serious doubt on these compounds being causative?
Love your articles because they are factual & quite interesting too.
I love puzzles & always have...
I'm talking about the boxed puzzles where you put the pieces together.
I am very good at it & always have been.
I'm 70 & figure if I started having cognitive problems doing them; that would then be a sign that I might need to have myself checked by a physician who specializes in dementia, etc.
Other than that I don't worry about it much...too many other important things than to pay attention to these studies that skew evidence the way they want.
I agree with you re- your comments on the above-mentioned study. Nevertheless, I was surprised re- your comment re- recent VD3, coffee and exercise studies as being "crazy". My impression was that the most recent RCT and longitudinal observational studies had all turned towards showing these interventions as yielding positive results in large populations. Could you please cite the sources of your thoughts re- the lack of efficacy of these three interventions. Perhaps I have been leading a sheltered life and having search problems on PUBMED!
I still love doing crossword puzzles; never did it as “brain therapy,” though. Thanks for your vitamin D explanation to Terry Hilsberg in the Comments section, since that one seems all the rage in recent years. Many thanks for your clarifying and informative articles.
Your reasons for why to be skeptical about these findings are not well thought out or particularly original. The idea that it is implausible that behavior alters neurobiology ignores probably tens of thousands of findings. Entire fields of study are based on this premise. Saying that this or that research question isn't worthy of study is an odd mindset, and quite frankly in this case one that I don't think you are qualified to make. All of your other concerns about effect size, clinical significance, etc etc are generic criticism that apply to many studies.
Scrabble played with people who are not particular about correct spelling is better than crossword puzzles. Funner and requires recognition of letters. And i believe you said they did the test using crossword puzzles on computers showing the lack of understanding of the subject group.
Always enjoy reading your articles Dr. Cifu. My 98-year-old mom has been addicted to crosswords since childhood. She's independently living in senior housing where they do all the meals and housekeeping. I can't point to much of anything except good genes to explain her abilities. She must do 2-3 crosswords daily and kicks butt in Scrabble. She is losing memory but very slowly!
Vit D is linked to calcium absorption for bone mineralization and renewal. Aging reduces Vit D production in the skin. Despite being an outdoor enthusiast I learned my D level was quite low after breaking a femur in a minor fall. Should have been tested much earlier for bone density and D levels than 65.
The headline drew my attention immediately because I don’t want to be asked to do puzzles. I like them ok, but 4 years ago we downsized and I have no place for a 500 or 1000 piece puzzle littering my space. I’d rather be working on sewing projects.
I’m 71 in a few weeks. Here are some of my observations about my mental decline, word finding, loosing a thought once I have the attention of my listener, recognition of place, sometimes faces, but not faces I know well. These phenomena aren’t that nice but I’m not sure what to do about them so I try to release these things from my mind. From what’s I know of neuroscience and myself I suspect worry, depression and isolation may be a contributor to cognitive decline. It seems possible that exposure to chemicals (so many and so many chemical combinations in my lifetime to soil, air & water) may have an effect, and one that might be involved with other body systems. I’ve been studying neuroscience since my 20’s and used it in my work as an ergonomist. It is fascinating. Out bodies are endlessly fascinating.
I enjoyed your wit. I hope to look at more of your entries. I seek to find your definitions of, for instance, churnalism et al. I’ll look for your podcast. Thanks for your thoughts and the time you took to post them.
If keeping the mind active actually does prevent things like dementia and cognitive decline, I would think we have a natural experiment running right now. The near universalism of smartphones and their constant need for attention would seem to be the obvious way to make it work.
Perhaps we should look at how those who didn’t grow up with smartphones and people who did. See if there’s any differences between the two in cognitive outcomes.
Sooo--it makes you crazy when articles suggest there is a benefit to vitamin D? Such a crazy notion. Such ignorant people. Shocking.
The use of change from baseline is a violation of the RCT design. A parallel-group RCT should compare parallel groups, not compare change from baseline. Baseline should only appear as an adjustment covariate, which unlike the authors' analysis will handle floor and ceiling effects and regression to the mean.
[iii] is my mantra. If I get demented I won’t know it so meantime I’ll do my best to hydrate, eat correctly to the best of my ability, exercise, and avoid articles that suggest medical miracles.
Thank you for allaying my fears. I have never liked crossword puzzles and have never done them.
I remember a neuro scientist being interviewed on the radio about his research ( probably 10 or so years ago likely NPR) At the end of the interview the radio host asked the question “What’s the best exercise for the brain?” The scientist answer,”take a walk outside everyday”. I remember the host being taken aback and replied something like “that’s it?”(not those exact words but the sentiment). He was very low key throughout the interview and explained in the same simple manner that walking helps circulation and your brain gets stimulated more outdoors.
Will walking outside cure Alzheimer’s, probably not but it’s at least as stimulating as a crossword and has many other health benefits.
Oh c’mon Dr Cifu, all my assisted living residents know that Word Search is better for your memory than crossword puzzles, just ask ‘em. :-)
"Alzheimer’s there is an overproduction and/or decreased clearance of amyloid beta peptides. The pathogenesis also involves the hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of the tau protein."...is this the now-becoming debunked theory of Alzheimer's and the amyloid proteins? I have been reading about the possible lies the research in pharmacological intervention has been going on...with all their eggs in one basket?
Hasn't the fraud around Sylvaine Lesne's research and the failure of all drugs targeting amyloid or tau, and the realization that many patients with amyloid or tau have no dementia cast serious doubt on these compounds being causative?
Love your articles because they are factual & quite interesting too.
I love puzzles & always have...
I'm talking about the boxed puzzles where you put the pieces together.
I am very good at it & always have been.
I'm 70 & figure if I started having cognitive problems doing them; that would then be a sign that I might need to have myself checked by a physician who specializes in dementia, etc.
Other than that I don't worry about it much...too many other important things than to pay attention to these studies that skew evidence the way they want.
I agree with you re- your comments on the above-mentioned study. Nevertheless, I was surprised re- your comment re- recent VD3, coffee and exercise studies as being "crazy". My impression was that the most recent RCT and longitudinal observational studies had all turned towards showing these interventions as yielding positive results in large populations. Could you please cite the sources of your thoughts re- the lack of efficacy of these three interventions. Perhaps I have been leading a sheltered life and having search problems on PUBMED!