The Brain on Jigsaw Puzzles
Dementia, and more specifically Alzheimer's Disease, statistics are staggering:
At first, there may be memory loss and trouble thinking clearly.
Later, disruptive behavior and other problems may start.
One of the ways to help treat or even stave off dementia is by giving patients a constant sense of the familiar.
Surrounding them with cherished objects can help stimulate the brain and slow the progress of the disease.
Jigsaw puzzles go a long way toward helping to keep those familiar people, places, things, and activities at the forefront of their minds.
How Do Jigsaw Puzzles Help the Brain? Jigsaw puzzles engage the brain to retain information on shapes and colors in order to choose pieces that will fit together properly.
This hunt for pieces requires your brain to memorize what each piece looks like or should look like and what kinds of pieces you are searching for in order to complete the picture.
Doing this repeatedly reinforces short-term memory.
Jigsaw puzzles also promote a true synergy between the left and right brain.
The logical left brain looks at parts.
It is sequential, rational, analytical and objective.
The left brain is stimulated by problem solving.
The creative right brain sees the big picture.
It wants randomness, is intuitive and subjective, and even likes the unfamiliar.
Jigsaw puzzles offer the best of both worlds.
In solving jigsaw puzzles, the brain is being worked in both hemispheres, thus making connections between the sides and well as between brain cells.
The connections enhance the ability to learn, understand and remember.
Furthermore, each success with the puzzle - piacement of the pieces as well as completing the puzzle - encourages the production of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain that regulates mood and affects people's concentration and motivation.
Dopamine plays a large part in the pleasure/reward pathway (addiction and thrills), memory and motor control.
How Do You Choose Jigsaw Puzzles? When selecting jigsaw puzzles, consider the following:
Sources: 1 - "Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease".
N Engl J Med.
Vol.
348, No.
14, pp.
1356-64.
2 - Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures 2009.
3 - Every 70 seconds, someone in the U.
S.
develops Alzheimer's disease.
4 - Prevalence of Dementia in the United States: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study.
Neuroepidemiology.
2007 November; 29(1-2): 125-132.
- Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.
S.
(1) - An estimated 5.
3 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's Disease.
(2) - Every 70 seconds, someone in the U.
S.
develops Alzheimer's disease.
(3) - In 2002, the prevalence of dementia among individuals aged 71 and older was approximately 3.
4 million Americans.
(4)
At first, there may be memory loss and trouble thinking clearly.
Later, disruptive behavior and other problems may start.
One of the ways to help treat or even stave off dementia is by giving patients a constant sense of the familiar.
Surrounding them with cherished objects can help stimulate the brain and slow the progress of the disease.
Jigsaw puzzles go a long way toward helping to keep those familiar people, places, things, and activities at the forefront of their minds.
How Do Jigsaw Puzzles Help the Brain? Jigsaw puzzles engage the brain to retain information on shapes and colors in order to choose pieces that will fit together properly.
This hunt for pieces requires your brain to memorize what each piece looks like or should look like and what kinds of pieces you are searching for in order to complete the picture.
Doing this repeatedly reinforces short-term memory.
Jigsaw puzzles also promote a true synergy between the left and right brain.
The logical left brain looks at parts.
It is sequential, rational, analytical and objective.
The left brain is stimulated by problem solving.
The creative right brain sees the big picture.
It wants randomness, is intuitive and subjective, and even likes the unfamiliar.
Jigsaw puzzles offer the best of both worlds.
In solving jigsaw puzzles, the brain is being worked in both hemispheres, thus making connections between the sides and well as between brain cells.
The connections enhance the ability to learn, understand and remember.
Furthermore, each success with the puzzle - piacement of the pieces as well as completing the puzzle - encourages the production of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain that regulates mood and affects people's concentration and motivation.
Dopamine plays a large part in the pleasure/reward pathway (addiction and thrills), memory and motor control.
How Do You Choose Jigsaw Puzzles? When selecting jigsaw puzzles, consider the following:
- No children's activities - if you think the puzzle feels childish, don't go with it.
- The degree of your loved one's condition - are large pieces best or will the standard, large-count puzzles do the trick?
- What's familiar - landmarks and favorite pastimes make great subjects.
You can also make your own puzzles featuring family photos or other objects cherished by your loved one.
Sources: 1 - "Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease".
N Engl J Med.
Vol.
348, No.
14, pp.
1356-64.
2 - Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures 2009.
3 - Every 70 seconds, someone in the U.
S.
develops Alzheimer's disease.
4 - Prevalence of Dementia in the United States: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study.
Neuroepidemiology.
2007 November; 29(1-2): 125-132.
