Word Search Puzzles Effective in Delaying Alzheimer’s
Mar 10, 2009, 15:57
NEW YORK - Recent studies indicate that patients who regularly complete word searches are 64 percent less likely to develop early Alzheimer symptoms. And apparently the harder the word search the better, as those who completed puzzles with lots of backward diagonal words fared even better.
James Franklin, director of Alzheimer’s Research at the Chicago School of Medicine, admits that he is rather perplexed by the findings.
“There is something about finding words in a large grid full of letters that is health food for the brain. We did brain wave studies on folks completing the puzzles, and were shocked to see the explosiveness of brain activity when words were found . . . especially the backward diagonal ones.”
Ken Stephens, CEO of Word Search International, was delighted by the findings.
“We’ve forever championed the intellectual stimulation our puzzles provide, and finally we have medical studies to back us up,” he said.
Reverse word search puzzles are thought to be able to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's.
Stephens admits the word search industry has experienced tough times in recent years, a slump most often blamed on the cultlike following of Sudoku puzzles. But now he’s confident that people will “come home again.”
Stephens also stated that the latest findings will influence how future puzzles are put together.
“We’ve always started puzzles by putting easy words on the top line that just jump off the page at our players. But now were going to make everyone work a little harder. No more freebies!”
To see more of John Homans' work, visit his website.
