Crossword puzzles and other mentally stimulating pursuits may hide, rather than prevent, the progress of Alzheimer's disease, research has shown.

In Meanjin Vol 69/1, David Astle laid down the gauntlet – readers were asked to complete our seventy-year crossword challenge and then use the answers to create a literary response.

Patsy Arnot won $10,000 on a Crossword Scratch and Win at the local Husky Oil on Front Street.

They're just doing what they believe in. They're just doing what they believe in.

For September 2, 2010

Poring over crossword puzzles, reading and listening to tunes might slow or delay brain decline at first, but being mentally active might speed up dementia once it hits, Chicago researchers have found."The person who has had a more mentally stimulating lifestyle may have more signs of disease in his brain, but the brain has been able to compensate for it better," said study author Dr. Robert ...

Click below for Tuesday's crossword. See Wednesday's print edition for solutions.

New research suggests that seniors who did mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles postponed the loss of thinking skills, but had an accelerated rate of decline once dementia set in later in life. Neuropsychologist Robert S. Wilson explains the finding.