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Experts think this is partly thanks to cognitive reserve: Basically, the more brain power you’ve built up over the years, the more you can stand to lose before you experience impairment. Researchers still don’t agree on how to measure cognitive reserve, but one theory is that better connections between different brain regions corresponds with more cognitive reserve.
To build up these connections, you need to stimulate your brain, said Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health and the founder and chief medical officer of the telehealth platform Isaac Health. To do that, try an activity that is “challenging enough that it requires some effort but not so challenging that you don’t want to do it anymore,” he said.
Speaking a second language has been shown to be good for cognition, as has playing a musical instrument, visiting a museum and doing handicrafts like knitting or quilting. Reading is considered a mentally stimulating hobby, and experts say you’ll get an even bigger benefit if you join a book club to make it social. Listen to a podcast to learn something new, or, better yet, attend a lecture in person at a local college or community center, said Dr. Zaldy Tan, the director of the Memory and Healthy Aging Program at Cedars-Sinai. That adds a social component, plus the extra challenge of having to navigate your way there, he said.
A few studies have found that playing board games like chess can be good for your brain; the same goes for doing crossword puzzles. It’s possible that other types of puzzles, like those you find in brain teaser books or from New York Times Games, can also offer a cognitive benefit.
But there’s a catch: To get the best brain workout, the activity should not only be challenging but also new. If you do “Wordle every day, it’s like well, then you’re very, very good at Wordle, and the Wordle part of your brain has grown to be fantastic,” said Dr. Linda Selwa, a clinical professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School. “But the rest of your mind might still need work.”
So play a game you’re not used to playing, Dr. Selwa said. “The novelty seems to be what’s driving brain remodeling and growth.”
Today, we want you to push yourself out of your cognitive comfort zone. Check out an online lecture or visit a museum with your challenge partner. Or try your hand at a new game, below. Share what novel thing you did today in the comments, and I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 5.
Shall We Play a Game?
Press the button, and we’ll give you a surprise New York Times game to play. Keep pressing until you land on one you don’t typically do.
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I’m broadly interested in the intersection of science and society: How medical research influences human health and behaviors, and the science (or lack thereof) behind wellness culture. My reporting often takes the form of service articles that aim to help readers understand what the latest research and recommendations mean for them, and explainers about the evidence and risks involved with the latest health trends.
Using this lens, I’ve written about many aspects of health for the Well section. Right now, I’m focused on the budding field of longevity research, as well as common neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury. I also write about integrative medicine, covering topics like psychedelic therapy and chiropractic care.
My Background
I’ve written about health and science for over a decade, covering CRISPR, Covid-19, mental health, the microbiome and more. Before joining The Times, I was a senior staff writer at Elemental, Medium’s health and wellness publication. My pandemic reporting there won a Crisis Coverage Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. My work has also appeared in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Scientific American, STAT, New Scientist and many other publications.
Before becoming a journalist, I received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Southern California. After spending a combined 15 years in California and England, I recently moved back to my home state of North Carolina.
Journalistic Ethics
As a Times journalist, I adhere to the standards of integrity outlined in The Times’s Ethical Journalism Handbook.
In covering health and science research, I let the evidence, not opinions, lead my reporting. However, I am acutely aware that the research I write about is conducted by people, and people can be biased. As a result, I focus my reporting more on consensus than individual academic papers, and I always place new studies into the context of the broader literature.
There is a great responsibility when reporting on health, particularly when speaking with patients and their families. Above all else, I strive to be accurate, fair and empathetic in my work.
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