Mind Games: How Puzzles Can Boost Mental Health

According to the National Institute on Aging, some of the most important things you can do to boost your cognitive health are eating healthy foods, being physically active, exercising your brain, and staying socially connected. Other methods you can adopt to improve your mental health include -

1. Reducing Brain Inflammation
Focusing on modifiable risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, cardiovascular risk factors is one of the most important things you can do to delay aging in the brain. Many diseases are caused by inflammation. Inflammation is one of the causes of all the diseases we deal with, including cancer, and controlling it in some way whether it is diet, lifestyle, etc. will delay the onset of neurological disorders. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA can enhance brain development.

2. Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain
Some research suggests that reducing cardiovascular risk factors increases brain function. Many of us believe that the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain is not linked to getting Alzheimer's but if you are in your 40s and 50s and smoke, don't exercise and your diet is not the healthiest in the world. If yes, then try to change these things today because it is very good not only for your brain but also for the health of your heart.

3. Brain Exercise To Get Good Sleep
Make sure you get a good night's sleep. We also clear some toxins from our brain when we sleep. This is because when you sleep, cerebrospinal fluid flows through the brain, acting as a flushing mechanism. Getting a good night's sleep is important to reduce the risk of developing these problems later in life and puzzles can help you get good sleep.

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Brain scientists know that doing a variety of different and new activities is good for the brain. It's good to try and learn new things or try to learn new things. Our brain operates through complex networks. When we try something new, the brain tries to rely on old networks already formed. Doing new things builds a stronger network. If we are strengthening those networks when a disease like Alzheimer's comes, our brain has developed its own ability to adapt. It's good to do cognitively stimulating things for your brain but adding new elements to those activities is even better.

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• Improves short-term memory – Solving puzzles helps strengthen connections between brain cells, increases mental speed and is considered an effective way to improve short-term memory. Puzzles are a fun way to exercise the most important muscle of our body, the brain.

• Sharpen logic – Puzzles help exercise our brain and improve cognitive function. Mindful games, including crossword puzzles, puzzles, word searches and logic problems, are an ideal way to activate different parts of your brain. All these activities will develop your critical and analytical thinking skills.

• Helpful in maintaining mood - Mindful games increase the production of dopamine, the happy hormone that regulates your mood, memory and concentration. When we solve puzzles, dopamine is released.

• Provide stress relief - By enjoying these puzzles you can relieve your stress and concentrate on learning new skills. As the stress of daily life disappears, your blood pressure and heart rate drop and are replaced by a calming sense of peace.

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Puzzles are considered extremely important for our brain health as they help in enhancing our cognitive function.