Brain Games and Their Effectiveness

Brain exercises like crosswords and math puzzles are often recommended for sharpening memory. However, neurologists caution that these generic activities might not tackle the root cause of mental fog.

Understanding the Target

Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, a UCLA neurology professor and co-founder of Cleopatra RX, emphasizes the need for specific brain exercises. According to Voskuhl, exercises must address the particular mental function that is lagging. In a recent talk at the Livelong Women’s Health Summit in New York City, she mentioned, “You can’t just do random cognitive exercises. They’ve got to fit the problem.”

The core issue is verbal memory, not math skills. Exercises need to be word-focused.

Mental fog can be triggered by hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause. These changes affect certain brain regions, specifically verbal memory and processing speed. While overall intelligence stays intact, the ability to recall words and think quickly under pressure might decline.

Addressing the Real Problem

Sudoku and other logic-based games fail to improve word-recall difficulties. Voskuhl explains it is not a widespread brain issue but a specific one affecting regions like the hippocampus, crucial for memory retention.

Focus on the Right Exercises

Effective cognitive training should match individual weaknesses. Word-based exercises can help, especially in two memory stages—encoding and retrieval. Brain fog typically hampers retrieval, slowing down the brain’s ability to access stored information.

Building a Better Brain Workout

To combat brain fog effectively, Voskuhl suggests focusing exercises on two aspects: processing speed and quick word retrieval. Exercises that encourage rapid processing include:

• Timed word games: Set a timer for 60 seconds to name as many items in a category as possible.
• Speed reading and quick summaries: Read an article swiftly, then summarize it aloud.
• Rapid recall drills: Use flashcards to name objects or people quickly.

These exercises focus on speed and active word recall rather than relying on generic puzzle apps. Voskuhl advises paying attention to daily challenges and choosing games that address those specific areas.

People “know themselves,” she asserted, highlighting the importance of identifying personal weaknesses to find suitable games.