Researchers analyzed data from 29,000 adults with an average age of 72.
Crosswords also caused less brain shrinkage (measured with MRI), seen after 78 weeks.
“The results show that external memory tools work."
It has implications for Alzheimer's disease as drugs that target the latter may be more effective in boosting recall.
Researchers simulated the cortex during three distinct states: wakefulness, non-REM sleep and REM sleep.
Scientists say it provides an "important model" for future psychiatric research into depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.
Self-reported symptoms were backed up by a significantly lower ability among long COVID sufferers to remember words and pictures in cognitive tests.
"Older adults may be well served by their prior knowledge when it comes to decision-making, where they can pull on their accumulated wisdom."
“Given the greater likelihood of high blood pressure in some racial and ethnic groups, this study’s finding should encourage health care professionals to aggressively address high...
"For too long, we have thought about and addressed heart disease and brain disease as two separate conditions, and based on our study’s findings and other...