Crosswords

Puzzles, Creativity, and Brain Health

Creativity is often associated with problem solving. Solving crosswords, according to long-time crossword writer Merl Reagle, who writes puzzles for the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, and Philadelphia Inquirer, among others, is good intellectual exercise, "like a ThighMaster for your mind." Solving the puzzles not only stimulates creativity and improves vocabulary and spelling, it also increases our store of cultural information and interesting trivia, all advantages for the serious creative writer.

Brain experts concerned with dementia and early Alzheimer's Disease also put word puzzles high on their list of activities to keep the brain functioning in peak condition. Dr. Stephen Kiraly, Vancouver based author of Your Healthy Brain writes that "brain disease, reaching epidemic proportions, is having a greater impact on our society than any other illness." The public must make a "cognitive shift," recognizing that the brain, like the heart, is a vital organ that requires preventative care and stimulation before the irreversible onset of disease. "Brain disease is increasingly recognized as a major killer," he writes. "For this reason alone, there is need for higher awareness of prevalence of brain disorders and the desirability of prevention, early diagnosis and treatment."

This concern is echoed by the Alzheimer's Association which, like Kiraly, encourages visitors to their site to stay "brain healthy" by keeping the brain as fit as the rest of the body. Their comprehensive web site suggests staying mentally active by reading, writing, and solving puzzles.

Henry Brodaty, professor of psychogeriatrics at the University of New South Wales in Australia also recommends "crosswords, playing cards and other brain exercises if you want to stay mentally sharp."

So, whether to stimulate creativity or keep the mind as healthy as the rest of your organs, the puzzle sites below will lead to hours of enjoyment.

Interactive Puzzles

Interactive puzzles are fun because you can often choose the level of difficulty, get clues, check your answers, and switch to a new puzzle at any time.

1. St Petersburg Times This is my favourite site because it times the play and because the letters on these puzzles show up red (wrong) or green (correct) as they are typed. You can also solve difficult words with one click.
2. Daily Puzzle A simple puzzle that loads quickly and changes daily.
3. USA Today Click on the featured puzzle to play.

Puzzles to Print

For a long list of printable puzzles, click here.

Dictionary

If you enjoy doing the puzzles on paper but need a little vocabulary help, try a dictionary specifically designed for solving word puzzles. This ten thousand page "digital dictionary/gazetteer supplements all other paper dictionaries" and claims to be "by far the largest and most complete work of its kind." click here

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