From the CEO
Daniel Mulloy | CEO and Executive Director, ARTA
The Benefits of
Being Puzzled
I do the New York Times crossword puzzle every morning to keep the old
grey matter ticking. — Carol Burnett
Research is revealing that
puzzles are far from pointless
time-wasters. Puzzles provide
many benefits for both mental
and physical well being.
Whether building a complicated
five-thousand-piece jigsaw
puzzle or challenging a difficult
crossword puzzle, there are
many options to try. Start one
today to enjoy the many benefits
of completing a puzzle.
Puzzles Improve Your Mood
One benefit of puzzles is
that they increase the brain’s
production of dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter
that regulates mood and feelings
of optimism. It also affects
memory, concentration, and
motivation. Dopamine is released
every time we successfully solve a
puzzle, thereby encouraging us to
continue working to solve them
and challenge ourselves.
Puzzles Can Delay Dementia
and Alzheimer’s
Keeping the brain active with
puzzles can help delay symptoms
6 | arta.net
Puzzles Lower Stress Levels
of dementia in general and
At the same time that puzzles
Alzheimer’s disease in particular.
challenge us, they also help us
Studies cited on the internet
to relax. During puzzle-solving,
site WebMD show that keeping
the mind active through puzzles brains go from a ‘beta,’ or
wakeful, state to an ‘alpha’ state.
and other problem-solving
activities can reduce the amount The alpha state is similar to the
state we’re in when we dream.
of brain cell damage that occurs
In fact, research has shown
in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
that intellectually demanding
Such exercise also supports the
activities like crossword puzzles
growth of new nerve cells and
or chess may be more effective
strengthens the connections
between them.
Researchers
Daniel’s Awesome Word Find
have also found a
correlation between
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the number of years
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the sooner puzzles
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of life, the better.
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It’s never too early
to start protecting
thank
you
arta
your brain.
members
you’re
awesome