Up & Coming Weekly

March 24, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 25-31, 2020 UCW 15 Puzzles are fun and entertain- ing, but their benefits go beyond simple recreation. In fact, playing and solving puzzles on a regular basis can benefit adults and chil- dren in various ways. Puzzles often stimulate problem-solving centers in the brain and can improve brain health. Researchers have found that, by completing crossword puzzles, playing challenging games or doing other puzzle-related activities, indi- viduals may be less likely to develop brain plaques that have been tied to Alzheimer's disease. Data published in the Archives of Neurology found a distinct connection between people who exercised their minds with stimulating activities in their early and middle years and brain health. This group had less Beta-amyloid protein uptake in their brains, which is linked to the onset of Alzheimer's, than those who didn't engage in puzzles during the same time frame. Beyond their health benefits, puz- zles offer some additional perks. Puzzles boost vocabulary. Puzzles such as crosswords or codewords/ cryptograms introduce people to new words. This helps people expand their vocabulary and can help them improve their spelling. Puzzles teach patience. Puzzles can be challenging, and such chal- lenges can promote patience in regard to approaching and real- izing goals. Puzzles can reinforce lessons. Teaching through puzzle play is an effective way to tap into memory retention while making lessons fun. Puzzles may improve intel- ligence. Engaging in puzzles can force players to think and reason using general knowledge, memory, spatial imagery and logic. These skills help to sharpen intellect over time. Researchers at the University of Michigan even found that adults could boost their IQs by four points after spending 25 minutes a day doing puzzles. Puzzles reinforce concentration. Concentration is required to find words hidden in a word search puzzle or to solve a brainteaser. According to data on SelfGrowth.com, puzzles naturally induce a state of creative, focused meditation. Puzzles improve visual-spatial reasoning. When solving a jig- saw puzzle or working one's way through a maze, players have to look at different shapes and figure out where they fit within the larger pic- ture. Better visual-spacial skills can help with packing, driving and using a map and can be valuable career tools in fields such as architecture. Puzzles are a fun recreational activ- ity that also can boost brain health. Check out our puzzles on page 22 and see the benefits for yourself. How puzzles promote health and wellness a STAFF REPORT FEATURE Puzzles are a fun challenge that provide a variety of benefits. Saturday, April 4, 2020 11 AM - 5 PM 536 N. Eastern Blvd. Fayetteville, NC 910.486.0221 capefearbg.org FREE to Garden Members Non-Members - Garden Admission All Dogs FREE Wag your tail and roll on over for a barking good time at Dog Day in the Garden! Adoptable pups from FAPS Dog Pageant with Celebrity Judges Enjoy demonstrations Shop with vendors Barks & Brews Beer Garden Nail trims and microchipping Riverbark Veterinary Hospital Webb Carpet Company A & G Residental Bed & Biscuits Boarding Inc. First Citizen's Bank Highland Animal Hospital Blessed Oasis Pet Resort Carolina Pet Care Services Inc. Five Star Entertainment The Grand Dames And MORE! Thank you to our sponsors: Benefiting Cape Fear Botanical Garden and FAPS POSTPONED POSTPONED rescheduled date tba rescheduled date tba If you are looking for ways to still Shop Local, here are some great suggestions: Shop online Buy in bulk Gift Cards Gift Certificates

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