“It is a small problem merely. But a problem that will agitate the little grey cells most adequately.”  – Agatha Christie’s Poirot in The Incredible Theft  

Lately I’ve noticed a lot of television commercials for the Luminosity website. Like brainHQ, BrainCurls.com, and other sites, Luminosity offers people of all ages exercises to strengthen different mental functions. The target areas include things like Memory, Attention, Flexibility, Multitasking, Speed, Problem-Solving, and more.

We’ve known for a long time that the brain is in some ways a “use it or lose it” organ, and that exercising it to keep it healthy is critical – especially as we age. As we grow older, our fear of losing mental acuity grows as well. With an expanding population of over-60 baby boomers, it’s a perfect time for a venture like Luminosity to step up and offer the tools to help us keep our minds sharp.

Wolfgang Bouc: I thought you despised computers.
Hercule Poirot: I do. They are a very poor substitute for the little grey cells, but sometimes they are surprisingly useful.      

–      Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express

 

There’s something about a crossword puzzle that always entices me. The Sunday NY Times Puzzle is always a good challenge, but also I love the considerably easier one my printer sends me every day (an available app that came with my wireless all-in-one), and I’ll always pick up a USA Today when I see it, just to do the puzzles. The crosswords are my favorite, but I try to do them all. The large Sudoku is most likely to defeat me.

Recently, I bought a children’s puzzle book for my eight year old granddaughter. We spent part of an afternoon working through it, and it was really fascinating to watch her solving and figuring out little tricks to various problems. She was tenacious.  It’s important at every age to test and stretch our thinking muscles. Reading, physical exercise, playing music, working puzzles, and any number of other activities all help to keep us sharp. Hopefully we all have some ways we employ and exercise our brains each day to keep them toned.

Because exercising those little grey cells is just as important to our well-being as physical exercise, and can be just as much fun.

Everyone does not use the grey cells, I think.   – Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Cornish Mystery

Agatha Christie’s Poirot on PBS via YouTube