Truth about popular brain ‘workout’ revealed

It’s the rare daily workout you can do sitting down. But does sudoku actually have any brain health benefits? Here’s the truth.

It’s the rare daily workout you can do sitting down. But does sudoku actually have any brain health benefits? Here’s the truth. Picture: iStock

Any sudoku regular will tell you the maths puzzle has a host of brain-building benefits.

Just ask them.

But is the 1984 Japanese game beloved by the intellectual elite — ie your snootzy uncle Graham — actually worth anything more than smug bragging rights?

We’ve long been led to believe brain games increase neuroplasticity, however, studies over the years have found while doing sudoku every day will make you better at sudoku, it doesn’t mean you’ll get better at figuring out difficult percentages on the spot.

But, in good news for uncle Graham, it certainly isn’t a waste of time.

PLAY SUDOKU AND OTHER MIND GAMES NOW

A study into the benefits of brain exercises concluded that sudoku can potentially help in the battle against cognitive decline.

The study from 2019 published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that people over 50 who play brain quizzes performed better in tests gauging attention, memory and reasoning.

As reported by Healthline, researchers looked at data from about 19,100 participants in the PROTECT study, finding those did puzzles had brain function equivalent to 10 years younger than their age.

When it came to short-term memory tests, sudoku enthusiasts had brain function up to eight years younger.

Sudoku, puzzles and crosswords can improve brain ageing – potentially keeping you 10 years sharper. Picture: iStock

“The improvements are particularly clear in the speed and accuracy of their performance. In some areas the improvement was quite dramatic,” said Dr. Anne Corbett, lead author and dementia lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School.

“We can’t say that playing these puzzles necessarily reduces the risk of dementia in later life,” Corbett clarified.

“But this research supports previous findings that indicate regular use of word and number puzzles helps keep our brains working better for longer.”

If you’re looking to boost brain health by giving puzzles a crack, The Australian is offering “easy sudoku” for the uninitiated.

It’s just one option in a series of new Mind Games on offer, including various crosswords, quizzes, number and word games and cryptic puzzles.

The Australian is offering a new subscription offering readers access to Mind Games for $9 a month