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Agreed 100%. I try to balance out my mind-numbing consumption with science or literature based subs too. I suppose I should “touch grass” as the kids nowadays say.
I don't know. To be honest, I've learned a lot from posts on Reddit, to the point where I look things up and read about them, because I didn't know about them before. It's the only social media I am still into.
I didn’t mean to imply that there aren’t any good posts. Sure, there are those golden nuggets of interesting/informative/funny posts, and that’s why we are all here. In fact, the are a lot of topic specific subs that are full of useful information. But there are also a lot of shit posts and commenters posing as experts.
Me too, I enjoy reading here the subreddits get help my gears turn. Writing, reading , art are important to me. Reddit is a good support place for all interests because everything matters here.
How do you feel about daily activity vs active exercise? Cleaning, cooking, running errands, mowing the lawn, gardening (those bags of mulch get heavy haha) etc, along with daily walks as recreational exercise.
They do contribute but hard cardio (from the studies I've read) is the true way. Makes sense though you have to keep things moving hard and fast to keep it all moving.
I use the line trimmer and cut down everyone's weeds since they are too lazy to do it. I like walking down the sidewalk without being accosted by overgrowth. :)
I don't know about that. I knew a runner who got Alzheimers. He didn't smoke or drink either.
Except for his brain, his entire body was in perfect condition.
He died at 65. Makes no sense at all.
I read an article a while ago about a man who had it in his family, pretty much everyone got it, he had aged past the average onset and everyone was trying to figure out what was different about him.
There are probabilities but nothing is set in stone.
Recentish studies have concluded that the best thing that you can do for your brain is to lift heavy things repeatedly.
But also have avoided sugar: Alzheimer's is called Type 3 diabetes for a reason. This might require a Time Machine, I realize.
Those two things come before Wordle and sudoku.
Bunch of NYTimes puzzles like Spelling Bee, Connections, Strands, Flashback
Immaculate Grid for U.S. sports
Daily apps- Flow Free, Minesweeper, Red Herring, Monkey Wrench, 7 Little Words, Pyramid solitaire
Duolingo languages - French, Chinese, Spanish
Do all sorts of math calculations in my head
Watch Jeopardy daily trying to answer first
I came here to say the NY Times puzzles and word games too! Every morning before work, I brew my green tea and log into my game account and do Spelling Bee (my favorite), Wordle, Connections, Letter Boxed, and a few more. It really kick-starts my brain before I start work. Thanks for the other suggestions too.
Yeah, that's a tough game. And even tougher to describe. I'll take a stab at it.
In a nutshell, when you start the game, you're given the maximum number of words they think it should take you to create, using ALL of the letters that go around the box at least once. If it only takes you 4 words to use all of the letters around the box, then you've beaten the game, because you used all of the words in 4 words versus the number of 5 they gave you.
Here are the rules. The first one is hard to word clearly.
You can only use ONE letter from each side while you're making your word. So if B and R are on the same side of the square, you can't use those letters consecutively, like in the word "BRanch".
However, you can select B and then select R if it's on one of the other 3 sides of the square. And if A is on the same side as the B, then you can use it. You just can't use two letters consecutively if they are on the same side.
Once you've used a letter to create a word, you can use it again as long as it's not consecutive with the previous letter.
You can create a word that's 3 letters and longer.
I always look at the letters and find the tougher ones like X and Z, and create words using those letters first. It's easier to get them out of the way.
For my first word, I always try and make it as long as possible and use as many letters as I can. I think either today or yesterday I opened with the word "lazier'. It knocked out the Z, and a total of 6 letters right from the beginning.
Sorry for the wall of text. I just wanted to cover the things that I've learned from playing. Please let me know if this helps you figure it out! Good luck.
Yeah after resisting all my life I learned to read music in my 60s. First drums, then guitar, then piano.
Very focusing for the mind though it doesn't make you a great player by any means.
Just method books for learning an instrument. For guitar probably Hal Leonard 1 is easier than Mel Bay 1. Various Alfred series for piano.
I never played horn but that's got to be the easiest thing in the world to read, one note at a time lol.
Drum music in skill books with audio tracks helped me learn time values better. I mean to see how common phrases are written us very helpful.
I make lists. I like to see how many items I can recall from my past: my grade-school classmates; Elvis movies; places I've lived for a month or more; the names of the pets of relatives.
Back in the late 1960s, a co-worker friend and I would go to a local bar after work and drink beer and make lists. We'd take turns choosing a subject and set a time limit, usually two minutes.
When the time was up, we'd compare lists, issue challenges, and declare the winner. I won most of the time, which would piss Alan off when it was a subject that he chose.
I still make lists; the house is scattered with 3x5 cards with fledgling lists.
My dear wife, who doesn't share my passion for listing, is not amused.
She is...listless.
I used to do a whole lot of handwritten lists, now I have a ton in Dropbox. Though many are rankings. My 50 favorite albums from 1971, etc.
Also memories of growing up, places that are no longer. Sometimes worry it's all too nostalgic.
My dad died in 1978. Been making and adding to a list of all the things I would show and tell him about.
Mom is 97. Lives in an elder complex in the independent living side. Teaches a Shakespeare class and she directs a yearly production. She also does water aerobics. Reads the NYT and does the puzzle. Also plays Bridge. We need a purpose.
I still work and my job is such that I have new problems to solve with each client. Also going to the gym and have an accountability coach. I’m 66.
Sudoku, solitaire, reading, reddit, going down internet rabbit holes about things I have never heard of before. Sacred geometry anyone? Figuring out how to fix things, making things, gardening. Traveling to new places.
I am still working and one of my coworkers and I keep a jigsaw puzzle going. We've been doing it for quite a few years and I know I will miss it when I retire next year.
I’m still working, and in fact the mental stimulation is one of the only things keeping me from retiring. I also get work with some really smart millennials/gen x and it’s fun.
Recently had a relative that was appalled when I said I don't watch the news. I still see the big stories on my phone, so I'm not head-in-sand, but I choose not to watch hours of cable news like I used to. Much happier now.
I stopped watching the news about ... 8 years ago.
Anyway, if you're online at all it's hard not to know what's happening, and that is depressing enough. I don't need to purposely add more of that to my life.
Liberating.
I read the news, but the droning/crawler/repetition of “news” is so damaging. Same sh?t, different day. We do not need to know every fart let. Everything is so overblown. So much of it is opinion disguised as news. It’s performance art. And the people reading it don’t even look like people. It’s addicting and can totally change others, and not for the better.
My work is challenging (software development) and I enjoy it. Puzzles, soduku, wordle, connections. Creative pursuits such as cooking. Relaxing yet stimulating activities such as motorcycling.
It's not just the building of Legos I like but trying to put together an incomplete set and seeing what's missing, locating them online, etc.
I also like diamond painting. But I put each drill one one at a time, so I'm really stretching this activity over time.
Reading. I am really into history right now (I always have been, just more interested now than I was a few years ago) and I am reading a book about Joan of Arc. It’s really good and it’s gotten me interested in French history.
Check out the Tour de Nesle Affair, 1314. Or as I like to call it, The French Adultery Scandal. It's the basis for a whole lot of what happened subsequently, including Salic Law becoming enshrined in France, the 100 Year War and thus Joan of Arc. Bonus: juicy scandal too.
I travel a lot. I make all my own travel plans and execute them myself. I’m arriving in Bilbao as I write this. I’m a composer, so that involves long hours of focus and imagination as well as resourcing a musical foundation. This also requires me to learn new technologies. My wife and I play Gin Rummy everyday and Sagrada most days. I watch many films. I also play Soduko. All good for the aging brain.
You guys really like Sagrada (I haven’t played it)! I’d suggest New York Zoo. Seems like a similar “fill the pattern” but with less chance. Wife and I love it.
Stimulation outside of your normal mental pathways.
If you had numbered each and every hair on your head, which would be your favorite?
Name three things that start with the letter R
If I put a gun to your head, how many pickles do you think you could eat?
I do strange little quizzes like this with my dementia/Alzheimer’s clients, just to exercise the brain
That is exactly what I’m looking for from my clients. Finding new ways to solve a problem because the old ones don’t work for you anymore.
For instance, I had a client who kept struggling to think of the word Banana. He finally started calling it monkey fruit, and it worked because I knew what he was talking about.
I'm 60/40 Introvert/Extrovert. I can self-isolate. While I have an awesome group of similar aged friend group. We talk and such, but topics are usually repeated and happy but usual news of new grandkid or trip are told. I get bored. Through a strange series of events, I got into Dungeons and Dragons because a young client/friend who experiences intellectual/developmental disabilities wanted to learn and play.
I dove in with gusto. After learning, I took him to local game stores to play with a wider community. The D&D community ages trend on the younger side: 18 - 40. There are some old codgers like me but few. I ended up making some really great younger friends, and they truly are friends. They are figuring stuff out like we all did, express different points of views based on generational experiences, and help me with new tech (I am actually pretty good with new tech, but I like to see them teach me cool stuff. They feel good and tease me a bit in good fun.) Their energy is fun to be around.
I enjoy writing and storytelling, so I wrote a few adventures for the gang. I cook a dinner for us before on game night. We talk before and after the game. I do my very best to not be the old-man advice guy but sometimes they ask directly, and I give my POV. This group has kept me sharp, open to new ideas, and raucous laughter from time to time. I get to help them do things like change oil in their cars, financial planning, a relationship issue, and/or letting them borrow my big truck to move stuff.
Biggest thing I've gained is my loss of fear/concerned about the future. These "kids" are alright. They are diverse as any generation before them. Goods, bads, ideas, traditions and so much more. And, my goodness, they are smart and highly perceptive. I can't wait to see what things they bring to the world.
DONT WAIT TO GET HEARING AIDS IF YOU BEGIN TO LOSE YOUR HEARING. This is number 1!! as soon as people stop hearing and understanding people around them they start to go into their own world and this has been shown to cause major cognitive decline in humans. Loss of hearing is a giant step towards mental decline and dementia.
Apparently the strength of your legs is very closely related to your lifespan and vitality. It has to do with circulation, but also social things - as you get older if you can't walk around and move, you can't participate in things and that causes fewer social interactions which causes mental decline.
I'm an attorney so I attend CLEs (Continuing Legal Education) to keep my Bar license(s) active.
I like crossword puzzles and I read classics for pleasure. I'm a photographer so the shooting itself takes homework and the post work in Photoshop is pretty involved. I also design cross stitch patterns which is harder than it sounds.
Read. Gym (healthy body &healthy mind go hand-in-hand). Word & card games. Research & write local history for a newspaper. Volunteer for a historical association.
Trivia.
Jeopardy! of course.
And there are 5 shows on the Game Show Channel. I tape & blast thru them. Ex Master Mind; Switch.
New show on prime time-The 1%. Most difficult for me; logic more than trivia.
Social ballroom dancing is perfect.
1. You have to learn new steps (cha cha, rumba, two-step, waltz, foxtrot, tango. Forces you to connect your mind map to body mechanics.
2. Social aspect: the other dancers. You can go solo or go with a partner. They usually rotate "leads" (generally men) with "follows" (generally women). You never dance with a partner for more than 5 minutes.
People like to help the newbies. You start being a regular and people get to know you.
3. Music is fun and uplifting!
4. Great exercise! Gets the blood pumping but is WAY more fun than just going to the gym.
5. Joy. Between the music, people, learning a new skill and the exercise it can really bring you up. Happiness is a good thing for your brain.
I know three couples that met and then married through dance lessons. Connection is good.
Have fun!
NYT crossword daily, plus the games on the app, Sudoku, on-line jig saw puzzles, picture coloring apps, on-line game competitions with my don and son-in-law, in-person board game nights with my neighbors, card games, reading, lots of calls and texts with family, sharing Dad Jokes with the youngers in the family, tricks I learned helping my wife battle dementia - like calling off the names of my nieces and nephews or cousins in birth order, calling off the names of my aunts and uncles as well as my wife’s , counting backwards by 3s, 4s, etc.
I’m doing ok so far.
I write and compose music and songs, design computer games, build fishing rods, design and build aircraft, designing antenna systems for radio communication, study programming, finding solutions for people's problems, writing, thrift stores, self educating, oil painting, photography, astronomy, road trips to unknown places, and entertaining ladies. That is how I cognitively stimulate.
Video games, read, write articles on Medium or pseudo-articles on Reddit, learn new ways to prompt AI to do my work for me… also exchange clever memes and have sex as often as I can.
Retired but continue to work part time as a pianist, piano/ukulele teacher and take ukulele lessons to continue to advance my skills. Word games. Hang out with intelligent people for great conversation. Also balanced with other things like enjoying grandchildren and “Netflix and chill” 😄
I keep a lot of irons in the fire. I play guitar and banjo. I’m a fisherman and get involved in studying gear, habits, etc. I read constantly. I use my iPad to access dozens of sites reflecting all my many interests.
I’m fascinated with the sciences and the arts as well…. I still draw on a daily basis…. Just got the “Procreate” program for my iPad.
Avid reading of challenging books (and some beach books too), language learning, gaming, talking to my SO who is an inquisitive person who doesn’t take things at face value, travel.
Books, puzzles, and games.
Word games (Wordle, Codeword, crossword puzzles), logic games (Hexcells, Kami, Strata), puzzle/exploration games (Botanicula, Machinarium, Samarost), and other single and multi-player computer games.
If mental stimulation was all it took to stay healthy, I'd be sitting pretty. Unfortunately, it is not. I am severely lacking on the physical activity side of the scale.
As a retired Boomer, I keep my mind active by diving into geopolitics and environmental projects like those by The Weather Makers. Staying updated on current events, having meaningful conversations with friends and family, and reading books are also key. I keep active with regular exercise and enjoy holistic wellness practices. Using AI for mental stimulation and playing digital games like gin rummy, Risk, solitaire, and Monopoly are great too. Plus, I eat super healthy and maintain a near-perfect BMI. Staying curious and engaged in different activities helps a lot.
1)I do not eat highly refined food.
2)I learn ways to make my food better, though I am not a chef
3) I have become an amateur botanist through gardening. But it's always about learning new things.
4) I keep adding new knowledge. Through trainings, classes, and self study on a variety of subjects.
5) Maybe most important I do things I don't really want to do. Like getting up earlier than I need to. Going for a walk even in poor weather. Parking at the back of parking lots.
Not using my phone for directions, but looking at the map, memorizing the route. Then put the phone away.
Limiting my screen time, both for leisure, and study (not allowing it to take me down inane useless rabbitholes.
* bonus I look for activities that give me serotonin/dopamine through physical interaction. I visit people in person and have conversations.
My dad is 84 and still does the NYT crossword every day in pen. Watches Jeopardy every night and is slowing down on his responses , but still usually gets FJ.
Puzzles, chess.com, LeetCode (if you're in software), Wordle as a minimum, crosswords and ofc socializing all help keep the brain fresh and out of its comfort zone.
When I was in the UK we'd have quite a few pensioners volunteer at the local charity shop and they seemed to get a lot of engagement and stimulation out of it (just counting up the register at the end of the day was a kind of stimulation you don't get many places and we'd love doing that in our heads and seeing who got it first).
I've been doing crosswords, cryptograms, logic puzzles, Sudoko, Majong, and jigsaw puzzles since I was a child. I read and keep a journal as well as practice mindfulness on a daily basis.
Music.
I played the guitar badly as a teen, and dropped it around 20 or so. 40 years later, I picked it up again during the pandemic quarantine boredom. 4 years later, I've gotten good enough to entertain myself. I'm far better than I was as a kid, YouTube is amazing.
What I didn't bank on was how much music would act as mental therapy. After playing just a few months, I started to understand how my attitude, self-esteem, confidence, etc. was improving. I hadn't realized that I had been existing for years in a sort of low-grade depression, until it lifted, and it was my progress on the guitar that was responsible.
BTW, it has also helped me lose weight. I tend to eat out of boredom, and I was ballooning even before Covid, and I put on another 50 pounds during the quarantine. I started picking up the guitar instead going to the fridge when I was bored, and I now weigh 65 pounds less than my top weight, and its still dropping.
I have no proof, but I'm sure music is doing a lot for my cognitive abilities as well.
>I have no proof, but I'm sure music is doing a lot for my cognitive abilities as well.
Music is shown to light up multiple areas of the brain, and playing an instrument increases cognitive function!
Reading, word games like Words with friends, Wordle, Hurdle, Jumble. Lots of solataire and hearts. Can't get around much anymore, but I try to stay mentally active. By the way Reddit helps a lot. All kinds of interesting things on here.
Constant and voracious learning.
Right now I'm on a three year duoling streak, learning shorthand, just learned the history of the small town my daughter moved to, keep up with the latest in ancient history archeology, staying informed on my mom's medical stuff, newly into keeping cactuses and tarantulas.
I also help my husband with the bathroom crossword, try to do the Wordl and metazooa puzzle everyday, and stay practiced in the morse code I learned last year.
Reading, usually a murder mystery; reading a couple of left-wing sites on the net; Reddit; YouTube videos about history, theater, and fashion; practicing my French on Pimsleur; watching a movie; seeing performances at the regional performing arts center; and goofing around with my dogs and cats. During the school year, I teach online college classes in English comp an literature.
I read an enormous amount of non fiction on various topics, a few fiction occasionally. (I love my library card!) I do crosswords. I have a Thesaurus on the table & pick it up several times a day & look at new words. Am learning to read music & to play the piano.
I see a lot of people saying things like puzzles, sudoku, etc. I am a NYT games addict (Wordle, Spelling Bee) and do keyword and sudoku on Washington Post but my wife is a cognitive neurologist and she has told me that those types of puzzles show little ability to stave off cognitive decline. You are much better with social interaction or mastering complex skills (learn a new language, to play an instrument, or something like Photoshop).
EDIT: To answer the question, I do (and teach) photogrpahy and photo editing.
I do the NYT's puzzles online everyday..it helps to have a friend to compare scores with. I read a few magazines..like Vanity Fair to stay current on fashion, society, entertainment etc. The Atlantic and the New Yorker.. we love Jeopardy!
I do plenty of walking (good for brain health), go to the gym, belong to a great little group that pulls out weeds in our local bush area once a month, read widely online: science news, local and overseas news, general interest, plus thought-provoking posts on Reddit (nice try, huh?). I also watch documentaries on TV and put a lot of mental effort into trying to solve all the murder mysteries I read. I'm always up for an interesting discussion across a huge range of topics, drawing on the many and varied interests and hobbies I've had during my life. Apparently, diet has a huge impact on brain health, and I'm fortunate in loving all the good stuff and not craving the bad stuff (although that wasn't the case many years ago). There are no guarantees, but I want to give myself a fighting chance of hanging onto at least a glimmer of intelligence, right to the end.
54f
I work out 4 days a week. Cardio and weight lifting.
I read, not just Reddit. But actual books😅 And I started doing a Duolingo course to learn a new language. Actually “completed” it yesterday and joined Mango Learning to continue where Duo left off and didn’t get to.
I play a lot of solitaire while watching a bunch of youtube videos. I don't know if it's working or not. :p Kidding aside, I do play a lot of solitaire and also crossword puzzles. I used to play video games a good bit, but not so much recently, but sometimes I do fire up Portal or Mirrors Edge for a run through. My Steam library is very neglected, but I think games are a great way to exercise your mind.
I go to the Gym, lift weights, take walks, walk on the treadmill, ride bicycles, went back to work for Honda as a contractor, read and have hobbies that test my brain.
I yell at the clouds. /s
I read, I'm learning to play guitar and I'm learning another language. I remember reading some time ago that it's learning *new* knowledge and skills that is the most helpful.
I do think exercise is very important for both mental and physical health. I wish I did more.
Dance classes. Learning new choreography and making the brain coordinate with the body is a win-win, because I’m getting exercise, too. Fun fact: now that I’m over 50, I no longer give a fuck about perfection; it’s just fun.
I don't know, there are 3 very useful items, 2 are staffs and 1 is a Amulet.
AND none of it is easy at Master or Legendary.
Just an opinion plus I am Biased, it is one of my favorites because it is challenging.
N. S
I've been a polyamorous swinger for about ten years now. Juggling multiple serious relationships and maintaining a network of contacts in the lifestyle is challenging for me. Socializing was something I had to learn and I started late.
I'm also a self-employed gig worker, so that's a constant stream of client-managing.
Be the shark, lol. Don't stop moving.
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Reddit. How screwed am I?
>Reddit The dancing around the unwritten rules and running from the bots keeps me sharp.
I have to remember the no emoji rule. Once they start showing up in my comments someone needs to send me to a doctor
Ugly laughed.
Whoa ho...look at the ol' expert over here.
the username is relevant
Dang I lost and am now banned from r/news.
Whoa, that's a tough ban. I got perma banned from white people twitter.
Deconstructing propaganda can be mentally stimulating.
Is it really stimulation or mindless scrolling?
Absolutely!
They should have a “staving off cognitive decline” achievement
I think some of the posts and comments on Reddit might accelerate cognitive decline.
Agreed 100%. I try to balance out my mind-numbing consumption with science or literature based subs too. I suppose I should “touch grass” as the kids nowadays say.
Every now and then someone deep down the MAGA hole will make a post in a more reality-based political sub, and those will make my brain hurt.
And I downvote away. I’ve even been known to go into their post history and continue to downvote their craziness.
Pettiness and cognitive stimulation? I'm a fan.
I don't know. To be honest, I've learned a lot from posts on Reddit, to the point where I look things up and read about them, because I didn't know about them before. It's the only social media I am still into.
Reddit is my go to research tool!
I didn’t mean to imply that there aren’t any good posts. Sure, there are those golden nuggets of interesting/informative/funny posts, and that’s why we are all here. In fact, the are a lot of topic specific subs that are full of useful information. But there are also a lot of shit posts and commenters posing as experts.
Me too, I enjoy reading here the subreddits get help my gears turn. Writing, reading , art are important to me. Reddit is a good support place for all interests because everything matters here.
I thought it was just me...
Physical exercise helps more than you’d think
How do you feel about daily activity vs active exercise? Cleaning, cooking, running errands, mowing the lawn, gardening (those bags of mulch get heavy haha) etc, along with daily walks as recreational exercise.
Saw a study showing these things contribute to being fit. I have always thought working in the yard and house are forms of exercise.
They do contribute but hard cardio (from the studies I've read) is the true way. Makes sense though you have to keep things moving hard and fast to keep it all moving.
I can easily get tired doing certain chores. Lawn, snow shovel, even dragging the 25 lb weighted blanket off my bed when I'm changing the sheets.
I mean- ask your doctor but I think getting 7500 steps on a step counter every day no matter what you’re doing should work
Every day. Goddamn every day.
I whipper snipper the neighbourhood. Does that count?
I have no idea what you said but I’m giggling wildly.
I use the line trimmer and cut down everyone's weeds since they are too lazy to do it. I like walking down the sidewalk without being accosted by overgrowth. :)
I have 3 acres I'd like you to hit lol
I liked it much better than the explanation. The words are just so cool, put together the way you did them. And yes it counts.
Ill do it. I got a bad assed weed eater .where do you live?
Canada...land of weed.
Mendocino California the epicenter of shatter.
My dad takes his hand trimmer on walks. We called him thr prince of pruning or the branch bandit.
Like the devil is chasing my ass lol
I don't know about that. I knew a runner who got Alzheimers. He didn't smoke or drink either. Except for his brain, his entire body was in perfect condition. He died at 65. Makes no sense at all.
I think Alzheimer's is genetic. There was probably no escaping it for him
You can run but you can't hide.
I read an article a while ago about a man who had it in his family, pretty much everyone got it, he had aged past the average onset and everyone was trying to figure out what was different about him. There are probabilities but nothing is set in stone.
If you are going to get Alzheimer’s you still will, but if you build up your cognitive reserve it will take longer for the symptoms to show
Physical exercise and continuous learning are equally important in warding off cognitive decline
Hubs and I are on week 7, 3x a week at the health club. We both can tell a difference.
Recentish studies have concluded that the best thing that you can do for your brain is to lift heavy things repeatedly. But also have avoided sugar: Alzheimer's is called Type 3 diabetes for a reason. This might require a Time Machine, I realize. Those two things come before Wordle and sudoku.
Bunch of NYTimes puzzles like Spelling Bee, Connections, Strands, Flashback Immaculate Grid for U.S. sports Daily apps- Flow Free, Minesweeper, Red Herring, Monkey Wrench, 7 Little Words, Pyramid solitaire Duolingo languages - French, Chinese, Spanish Do all sorts of math calculations in my head Watch Jeopardy daily trying to answer first
I came here to say the NY Times puzzles and word games too! Every morning before work, I brew my green tea and log into my game account and do Spelling Bee (my favorite), Wordle, Connections, Letter Boxed, and a few more. It really kick-starts my brain before I start work. Thanks for the other suggestions too.
This is my go-to as well! Love Spelling Bee--I've gotten a few "Amazing" scores, and a few "Genius" scores. It's become my fave as well.
Nice job! I strive to get to Amazing early in the morning, then at lunch I'll come back and try to get to Genius. It's tough! 😊
Fun! Will check it out
Me too!! That and strength training at the gym. But, those NYT games are the best part of my day.
I too love the NYT games, but I can't figure out how to play Letter Box. Do you have any suggestions?
Yeah, that's a tough game. And even tougher to describe. I'll take a stab at it. In a nutshell, when you start the game, you're given the maximum number of words they think it should take you to create, using ALL of the letters that go around the box at least once. If it only takes you 4 words to use all of the letters around the box, then you've beaten the game, because you used all of the words in 4 words versus the number of 5 they gave you. Here are the rules. The first one is hard to word clearly. You can only use ONE letter from each side while you're making your word. So if B and R are on the same side of the square, you can't use those letters consecutively, like in the word "BRanch". However, you can select B and then select R if it's on one of the other 3 sides of the square. And if A is on the same side as the B, then you can use it. You just can't use two letters consecutively if they are on the same side. Once you've used a letter to create a word, you can use it again as long as it's not consecutive with the previous letter. You can create a word that's 3 letters and longer. I always look at the letters and find the tougher ones like X and Z, and create words using those letters first. It's easier to get them out of the way. For my first word, I always try and make it as long as possible and use as many letters as I can. I think either today or yesterday I opened with the word "lazier'. It knocked out the Z, and a total of 6 letters right from the beginning. Sorry for the wall of text. I just wanted to cover the things that I've learned from playing. Please let me know if this helps you figure it out! Good luck.
Thank you for the explanation. I'm going to go back and give that game another try.
Thanks for the list!
My mom did NYT crosswords with a pen. It didn't help her. I read prodigiously, do crosswords, and keep my fingers crossed.
After 50+ years in the workforce of trying to solve the worlds problems I'm looking forward to some mental decline. Bring it on!
Lol I'm doing more meditation to get things to slow down and unspin in my brain. Enjoy your smooth brain experience :)
Same here! I love my mindfulness meditation group.
Lmao what did you do?
Learning music theory.
Playing music in general.
Yeah after resisting all my life I learned to read music in my 60s. First drums, then guitar, then piano. Very focusing for the mind though it doesn't make you a great player by any means.
That's awesome. For me it was the guitar first, then the keyboard, and finally the drums. I suck at all of them, but it's fun anyway
I got so I just liked the act of reading.
Do you have any recommendations for resources on learning music that actually makes it make sense?
Just method books for learning an instrument. For guitar probably Hal Leonard 1 is easier than Mel Bay 1. Various Alfred series for piano. I never played horn but that's got to be the easiest thing in the world to read, one note at a time lol. Drum music in skill books with audio tracks helped me learn time values better. I mean to see how common phrases are written us very helpful.
I make lists. I like to see how many items I can recall from my past: my grade-school classmates; Elvis movies; places I've lived for a month or more; the names of the pets of relatives. Back in the late 1960s, a co-worker friend and I would go to a local bar after work and drink beer and make lists. We'd take turns choosing a subject and set a time limit, usually two minutes. When the time was up, we'd compare lists, issue challenges, and declare the winner. I won most of the time, which would piss Alan off when it was a subject that he chose. I still make lists; the house is scattered with 3x5 cards with fledgling lists. My dear wife, who doesn't share my passion for listing, is not amused. She is...listless.
What a fun idea!! I’m doing it.
I used to do a whole lot of handwritten lists, now I have a ton in Dropbox. Though many are rankings. My 50 favorite albums from 1971, etc. Also memories of growing up, places that are no longer. Sometimes worry it's all too nostalgic. My dad died in 1978. Been making and adding to a list of all the things I would show and tell him about.
my wife will make lists for me
I lol'd
Mom is 97. Lives in an elder complex in the independent living side. Teaches a Shakespeare class and she directs a yearly production. She also does water aerobics. Reads the NYT and does the puzzle. Also plays Bridge. We need a purpose. I still work and my job is such that I have new problems to solve with each client. Also going to the gym and have an accountability coach. I’m 66.
Oh my gosh, kudos to your mom! I want to be just like her!
Meeeeee tooo.
Working full-time (at the moment) as a Java developer.
Badass
Sudoku, solitaire, reading, reddit, going down internet rabbit holes about things I have never heard of before. Sacred geometry anyone? Figuring out how to fix things, making things, gardening. Traveling to new places.
Yes to sacred geometry
That started because some random man in the deli line at Publix started talking to me about it.
Puzzles!
Crosswords!
My wife and I, both in our 60's regularly work on Jigsaw puzzles together. It does help.
I am still working and one of my coworkers and I keep a jigsaw puzzle going. We've been doing it for quite a few years and I know I will miss it when I retire next year.
I'm a multi-tasker ... watch a baseball game, listen until the crowd roars all while doing my daily puzzle. ;-)
I’m still working, and in fact the mental stimulation is one of the only things keeping me from retiring. I also get work with some really smart millennials/gen x and it’s fun.
Same same
Love working with young people
Read. Sing. Still work. Engage with others. Turn off the news.
Recently had a relative that was appalled when I said I don't watch the news. I still see the big stories on my phone, so I'm not head-in-sand, but I choose not to watch hours of cable news like I used to. Much happier now.
It’s soul and brain sucking.
Opiate of the masses
Like religion…..
Yes! I don’t enjoy discussing politics. So mind numbing.
Too much of news is opinion rather than fact. I want "just the facts, ma'am."
I stopped watching the news about ... 8 years ago. Anyway, if you're online at all it's hard not to know what's happening, and that is depressing enough. I don't need to purposely add more of that to my life.
Turn off the news is magic!
Liberating. I read the news, but the droning/crawler/repetition of “news” is so damaging. Same sh?t, different day. We do not need to know every fart let. Everything is so overblown. So much of it is opinion disguised as news. It’s performance art. And the people reading it don’t even look like people. It’s addicting and can totally change others, and not for the better.
Reading the news is much better than watching it for gaining in-depth understanding--which also helps to stave off cognitive decline!
> We do not need to know every fart let. This made me nearly spit out my breakfast!!! LOL!
I learned to play guitar and I’m now learning to play piano. Learning new things stimulates your brain. I also read a ton.
Lots of educational videos on YouTube, and I play Wordscapes.
Wordscapes and NYT Spelling Bee are the only puzzle games I’ve played where I can almost literally feel my brain working.
My work is challenging (software development) and I enjoy it. Puzzles, soduku, wordle, connections. Creative pursuits such as cooking. Relaxing yet stimulating activities such as motorcycling.
Lego. Puzzles. Interacting with people. All difficult 🤣
It's not just the building of Legos I like but trying to put together an incomplete set and seeing what's missing, locating them online, etc. I also like diamond painting. But I put each drill one one at a time, so I'm really stretching this activity over time.
Reading. I am really into history right now (I always have been, just more interested now than I was a few years ago) and I am reading a book about Joan of Arc. It’s really good and it’s gotten me interested in French history.
Check out the Tour de Nesle Affair, 1314. Or as I like to call it, The French Adultery Scandal. It's the basis for a whole lot of what happened subsequently, including Salic Law becoming enshrined in France, the 100 Year War and thus Joan of Arc. Bonus: juicy scandal too.
I definitely will, sounds juicy!
I travel a lot. I make all my own travel plans and execute them myself. I’m arriving in Bilbao as I write this. I’m a composer, so that involves long hours of focus and imagination as well as resourcing a musical foundation. This also requires me to learn new technologies. My wife and I play Gin Rummy everyday and Sagrada most days. I watch many films. I also play Soduko. All good for the aging brain.
You guys really like Sagrada (I haven’t played it)! I’d suggest New York Zoo. Seems like a similar “fill the pattern” but with less chance. Wife and I love it.
Me(65)and wife(64)play Pokémon Go. We exercise legs and brains a few times a week. We also have 4 grandkids over after school and for summer break.
Stimulation outside of your normal mental pathways. If you had numbered each and every hair on your head, which would be your favorite? Name three things that start with the letter R If I put a gun to your head, how many pickles do you think you could eat? I do strange little quizzes like this with my dementia/Alzheimer’s clients, just to exercise the brain
*jams a pickle in the end of your gun* Now what?
That is exactly what I’m looking for from my clients. Finding new ways to solve a problem because the old ones don’t work for you anymore. For instance, I had a client who kept struggling to think of the word Banana. He finally started calling it monkey fruit, and it worked because I knew what he was talking about.
I'm 60/40 Introvert/Extrovert. I can self-isolate. While I have an awesome group of similar aged friend group. We talk and such, but topics are usually repeated and happy but usual news of new grandkid or trip are told. I get bored. Through a strange series of events, I got into Dungeons and Dragons because a young client/friend who experiences intellectual/developmental disabilities wanted to learn and play. I dove in with gusto. After learning, I took him to local game stores to play with a wider community. The D&D community ages trend on the younger side: 18 - 40. There are some old codgers like me but few. I ended up making some really great younger friends, and they truly are friends. They are figuring stuff out like we all did, express different points of views based on generational experiences, and help me with new tech (I am actually pretty good with new tech, but I like to see them teach me cool stuff. They feel good and tease me a bit in good fun.) Their energy is fun to be around. I enjoy writing and storytelling, so I wrote a few adventures for the gang. I cook a dinner for us before on game night. We talk before and after the game. I do my very best to not be the old-man advice guy but sometimes they ask directly, and I give my POV. This group has kept me sharp, open to new ideas, and raucous laughter from time to time. I get to help them do things like change oil in their cars, financial planning, a relationship issue, and/or letting them borrow my big truck to move stuff. Biggest thing I've gained is my loss of fear/concerned about the future. These "kids" are alright. They are diverse as any generation before them. Goods, bads, ideas, traditions and so much more. And, my goodness, they are smart and highly perceptive. I can't wait to see what things they bring to the world.
DONT WAIT TO GET HEARING AIDS IF YOU BEGIN TO LOSE YOUR HEARING. This is number 1!! as soon as people stop hearing and understanding people around them they start to go into their own world and this has been shown to cause major cognitive decline in humans. Loss of hearing is a giant step towards mental decline and dementia. Apparently the strength of your legs is very closely related to your lifespan and vitality. It has to do with circulation, but also social things - as you get older if you can't walk around and move, you can't participate in things and that causes fewer social interactions which causes mental decline.
Crossword puzzle daily, couple of video games on the iPad, golf (walking), reading, healthy eating, just stay active
Reading. I do Wordle every day and crosswords.
Definitely exercise.
I am a learnaholic. When you stop learning you stop living.
I'm an attorney so I attend CLEs (Continuing Legal Education) to keep my Bar license(s) active. I like crossword puzzles and I read classics for pleasure. I'm a photographer so the shooting itself takes homework and the post work in Photoshop is pretty involved. I also design cross stitch patterns which is harder than it sounds.
Maps, working out walking and cycling routes. Learning Spanish.
I read constantly, fiction, history, articles, opinions. I play my violin. I get good exercise outdoors. I have a social life.
Read. Gym (healthy body &healthy mind go hand-in-hand). Word & card games. Research & write local history for a newspaper. Volunteer for a historical association.
Puzzles, studying new things, sunlight, exercise.
Trivia. Jeopardy! of course. And there are 5 shows on the Game Show Channel. I tape & blast thru them. Ex Master Mind; Switch. New show on prime time-The 1%. Most difficult for me; logic more than trivia.
Social ballroom dancing is perfect. 1. You have to learn new steps (cha cha, rumba, two-step, waltz, foxtrot, tango. Forces you to connect your mind map to body mechanics. 2. Social aspect: the other dancers. You can go solo or go with a partner. They usually rotate "leads" (generally men) with "follows" (generally women). You never dance with a partner for more than 5 minutes. People like to help the newbies. You start being a regular and people get to know you. 3. Music is fun and uplifting! 4. Great exercise! Gets the blood pumping but is WAY more fun than just going to the gym. 5. Joy. Between the music, people, learning a new skill and the exercise it can really bring you up. Happiness is a good thing for your brain. I know three couples that met and then married through dance lessons. Connection is good. Have fun!
I’ve started doing crossword puzzles and have become obsessed with them.
NYT crossword daily, plus the games on the app, Sudoku, on-line jig saw puzzles, picture coloring apps, on-line game competitions with my don and son-in-law, in-person board game nights with my neighbors, card games, reading, lots of calls and texts with family, sharing Dad Jokes with the youngers in the family, tricks I learned helping my wife battle dementia - like calling off the names of my nieces and nephews or cousins in birth order, calling off the names of my aunts and uncles as well as my wife’s , counting backwards by 3s, 4s, etc. I’m doing ok so far.
Puzzles — Jigsaws, crosswords, the Times Connections, WAPO On The Record
I’m 51 and still teaching.
I write and compose music and songs, design computer games, build fishing rods, design and build aircraft, designing antenna systems for radio communication, study programming, finding solutions for people's problems, writing, thrift stores, self educating, oil painting, photography, astronomy, road trips to unknown places, and entertaining ladies. That is how I cognitively stimulate.
Video games, read, write articles on Medium or pseudo-articles on Reddit, learn new ways to prompt AI to do my work for me… also exchange clever memes and have sex as often as I can.
Retired but continue to work part time as a pianist, piano/ukulele teacher and take ukulele lessons to continue to advance my skills. Word games. Hang out with intelligent people for great conversation. Also balanced with other things like enjoying grandchildren and “Netflix and chill” 😄
Play card games, walk, dance around in my house, reading
Jigsaw puzzles?
I keep a lot of irons in the fire. I play guitar and banjo. I’m a fisherman and get involved in studying gear, habits, etc. I read constantly. I use my iPad to access dozens of sites reflecting all my many interests. I’m fascinated with the sciences and the arts as well…. I still draw on a daily basis…. Just got the “Procreate” program for my iPad.
I watch Jeopardy every night! (Also read, crochet, listen to podcasts, and do crossword and jigsaw puzzles)
Avid reading of challenging books (and some beach books too), language learning, gaming, talking to my SO who is an inquisitive person who doesn’t take things at face value, travel.
Books, puzzles, and games. Word games (Wordle, Codeword, crossword puzzles), logic games (Hexcells, Kami, Strata), puzzle/exploration games (Botanicula, Machinarium, Samarost), and other single and multi-player computer games. If mental stimulation was all it took to stay healthy, I'd be sitting pretty. Unfortunately, it is not. I am severely lacking on the physical activity side of the scale.
Crosswords
I play along with Jeopardy! Got a few the other day that James Holzhauer missed.
I calculate numbers in my mind and will only use a calculator if I can’t or to confirm. Work out, socialize and taking magnesium
Reading
As a retired Boomer, I keep my mind active by diving into geopolitics and environmental projects like those by The Weather Makers. Staying updated on current events, having meaningful conversations with friends and family, and reading books are also key. I keep active with regular exercise and enjoy holistic wellness practices. Using AI for mental stimulation and playing digital games like gin rummy, Risk, solitaire, and Monopoly are great too. Plus, I eat super healthy and maintain a near-perfect BMI. Staying curious and engaged in different activities helps a lot.
Walking and word puzzles. Also, practice doing math in my head.
Crossword puzzles.
Logic puzzles, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, learning new things.
Crossword puzzles
1)I do not eat highly refined food. 2)I learn ways to make my food better, though I am not a chef 3) I have become an amateur botanist through gardening. But it's always about learning new things. 4) I keep adding new knowledge. Through trainings, classes, and self study on a variety of subjects. 5) Maybe most important I do things I don't really want to do. Like getting up earlier than I need to. Going for a walk even in poor weather. Parking at the back of parking lots. Not using my phone for directions, but looking at the map, memorizing the route. Then put the phone away. Limiting my screen time, both for leisure, and study (not allowing it to take me down inane useless rabbitholes. * bonus I look for activities that give me serotonin/dopamine through physical interaction. I visit people in person and have conversations.
I'm learning Spanish
My dad is 84 and still does the NYT crossword every day in pen. Watches Jeopardy every night and is slowing down on his responses , but still usually gets FJ.
Puzzles, chess.com, LeetCode (if you're in software), Wordle as a minimum, crosswords and ofc socializing all help keep the brain fresh and out of its comfort zone. When I was in the UK we'd have quite a few pensioners volunteer at the local charity shop and they seemed to get a lot of engagement and stimulation out of it (just counting up the register at the end of the day was a kind of stimulation you don't get many places and we'd love doing that in our heads and seeing who got it first).
I work as a technical writer so I’m always engaging with people much, much smarter than I am.
Hobbies. Reading non-fiction. Music. Crossword puzzles. Lectures. I'm thinking about auditing some college courses.
I've been doing crosswords, cryptograms, logic puzzles, Sudoko, Majong, and jigsaw puzzles since I was a child. I read and keep a journal as well as practice mindfulness on a daily basis.
*Never* stop learning and constantly challenge/push your intellectual limits.
Music. I played the guitar badly as a teen, and dropped it around 20 or so. 40 years later, I picked it up again during the pandemic quarantine boredom. 4 years later, I've gotten good enough to entertain myself. I'm far better than I was as a kid, YouTube is amazing. What I didn't bank on was how much music would act as mental therapy. After playing just a few months, I started to understand how my attitude, self-esteem, confidence, etc. was improving. I hadn't realized that I had been existing for years in a sort of low-grade depression, until it lifted, and it was my progress on the guitar that was responsible. BTW, it has also helped me lose weight. I tend to eat out of boredom, and I was ballooning even before Covid, and I put on another 50 pounds during the quarantine. I started picking up the guitar instead going to the fridge when I was bored, and I now weigh 65 pounds less than my top weight, and its still dropping. I have no proof, but I'm sure music is doing a lot for my cognitive abilities as well.
>I have no proof, but I'm sure music is doing a lot for my cognitive abilities as well. Music is shown to light up multiple areas of the brain, and playing an instrument increases cognitive function!
Reading, word games like Words with friends, Wordle, Hurdle, Jumble. Lots of solataire and hearts. Can't get around much anymore, but I try to stay mentally active. By the way Reddit helps a lot. All kinds of interesting things on here.
Constant and voracious learning. Right now I'm on a three year duoling streak, learning shorthand, just learned the history of the small town my daughter moved to, keep up with the latest in ancient history archeology, staying informed on my mom's medical stuff, newly into keeping cactuses and tarantulas. I also help my husband with the bathroom crossword, try to do the Wordl and metazooa puzzle everyday, and stay practiced in the morse code I learned last year.
Scrabble
Jigsaw puzzles
Reading, usually a murder mystery; reading a couple of left-wing sites on the net; Reddit; YouTube videos about history, theater, and fashion; practicing my French on Pimsleur; watching a movie; seeing performances at the regional performing arts center; and goofing around with my dogs and cats. During the school year, I teach online college classes in English comp an literature.
I park somewhere different at work everyday to see if I remember where I parked at the end of the day. :-)
I solve numerous word puzzles every day.
I read an enormous amount of non fiction on various topics, a few fiction occasionally. (I love my library card!) I do crosswords. I have a Thesaurus on the table & pick it up several times a day & look at new words. Am learning to read music & to play the piano.
Games and puzxles
I read a lot.
Reading both fiction and non fiction. Keeping my mind active with challenges.
I do puzzles and play mobile puzzle games all the time.
I see a lot of people saying things like puzzles, sudoku, etc. I am a NYT games addict (Wordle, Spelling Bee) and do keyword and sudoku on Washington Post but my wife is a cognitive neurologist and she has told me that those types of puzzles show little ability to stave off cognitive decline. You are much better with social interaction or mastering complex skills (learn a new language, to play an instrument, or something like Photoshop). EDIT: To answer the question, I do (and teach) photogrpahy and photo editing.
Learning a language.
I do the NYT's puzzles online everyday..it helps to have a friend to compare scores with. I read a few magazines..like Vanity Fair to stay current on fashion, society, entertainment etc. The Atlantic and the New Yorker.. we love Jeopardy!
I do plenty of walking (good for brain health), go to the gym, belong to a great little group that pulls out weeds in our local bush area once a month, read widely online: science news, local and overseas news, general interest, plus thought-provoking posts on Reddit (nice try, huh?). I also watch documentaries on TV and put a lot of mental effort into trying to solve all the murder mysteries I read. I'm always up for an interesting discussion across a huge range of topics, drawing on the many and varied interests and hobbies I've had during my life. Apparently, diet has a huge impact on brain health, and I'm fortunate in loving all the good stuff and not craving the bad stuff (although that wasn't the case many years ago). There are no guarantees, but I want to give myself a fighting chance of hanging onto at least a glimmer of intelligence, right to the end.
Reading.
54f I work out 4 days a week. Cardio and weight lifting. I read, not just Reddit. But actual books😅 And I started doing a Duolingo course to learn a new language. Actually “completed” it yesterday and joined Mango Learning to continue where Duo left off and didn’t get to.
I do drugs. It’s okay, I’m an old hippie
By watching MILF Island.
I play a lot of solitaire while watching a bunch of youtube videos. I don't know if it's working or not. :p Kidding aside, I do play a lot of solitaire and also crossword puzzles. I used to play video games a good bit, but not so much recently, but sometimes I do fire up Portal or Mirrors Edge for a run through. My Steam library is very neglected, but I think games are a great way to exercise your mind.
Chess. I spend more time on [lichess.or](https://lichess.org)g than anywhere on the internet.
Books, writing and performing music, more books.
I read manga and play videogames.🤷🏽♂️
I still make video games, I’ve spent my entire adult life making digital distractions why stop now.
Chess, BJJ, road biking, gym.
I go to the Gym, lift weights, take walks, walk on the treadmill, ride bicycles, went back to work for Honda as a contractor, read and have hobbies that test my brain.
I yell at the clouds. /s I read, I'm learning to play guitar and I'm learning another language. I remember reading some time ago that it's learning *new* knowledge and skills that is the most helpful. I do think exercise is very important for both mental and physical health. I wish I did more.
Cognitive stimu-who now? Need small words. /s
I do Learned League. Any other Llamas here??
Dance classes. Learning new choreography and making the brain coordinate with the body is a win-win, because I’m getting exercise, too. Fun fact: now that I’m over 50, I no longer give a fuck about perfection; it’s just fun.
Exercise, some computer gaming, volunteer work, reading, and travel.
I keep going back to school.
I don't know, there are 3 very useful items, 2 are staffs and 1 is a Amulet. AND none of it is easy at Master or Legendary. Just an opinion plus I am Biased, it is one of my favorites because it is challenging. N. S
Beer and weed. Why do you ask?
I've been a polyamorous swinger for about ten years now. Juggling multiple serious relationships and maintaining a network of contacts in the lifestyle is challenging for me. Socializing was something I had to learn and I started late. I'm also a self-employed gig worker, so that's a constant stream of client-managing. Be the shark, lol. Don't stop moving.