the

Staying Sharp
puzzle packet
from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Exercise your mind with these puzzles and you may help your brain STAY SHARP!

Staying Sharp: Tenets of Successful Brain Aging

We all know people who stay sharp as a tack well into old age, or who seem to blossom creatively late in life. It turns out that that these successful agers seem to share some common characteristics. Below are some key words related to aging successfully. For more information please read the Staying Sharp booklet Successful Aging and Your Brain from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, www.dana.org. Words may appear in all directions, including diagonally and backwards.

R N P N O R K E O N G D A M B Y L I R R M E N T A L S T L S A I I U I O U E I I M U L A T

I M A F S O N A I O N D E A R N T A C U D E A

E A R E N O I

O S C H P V R T V L Y T L E V O N A C O T R G T L P E T H A C L A O E X E R C A L I F E S T Y L E A L Z C O R S A P U R I I S E R M I E L N H A

I N R N T T M S L T S I G T S U W N O U D S V L S D U N

C Z E C O I S H N S E M A G G N I Y A L P D A A E A U Y S B E R I T D M S N E I P Y T I N E N E L M

R P I E I A N C E L L N E T W O R K C A C E R H P D C C E C G M T E N H I S M L C H I Y R A B S A Y N O I P A A

L D R E N S C P V M D H H I U R N H E I K R O W T E N V T S E F R G R
puzzles volunteer think plasticity friends playing games dancing novelty lifestyle diet chess reading family network sleep skills practice sharp laughter mental

C I E M U H E A I
aerobic mental stimulation learning cell network community exercise function education cards neural reserve children

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Staying Sharp: Learning as we Age

From the day we are born our brain is primed for learning, ready to capture the experiences of our lives and encode them into its web of nerve connection. Below are some key words related to how the learning and memory happen within the brain. For more information please read the Staying Sharp booklet Successful Aging and Your Brain from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, www.dana.org. Words may appear in all directions, including diagonally and backwards.

F E X E C U T I V E F U N C T I O N O F M E O Y I A I T O U L X I T N N N A N S A E N R E X P E R I E N C E E S C S Y I I G T O B E M X A O C O N N E C T I O N G G I H U N C A N A C I U A O C M N A G N N H M G I G A G P A P S G A I U O L R M N T O F C C N O X N I T A U O N L M E D U C A T I O N S I D N C E U I I M O A R G

O T L A D T R O I L T G B N O S E C G A T N E E N L N C S E C S L C T R F Y E E E N I I H E I N D R M I S A

G T N O I T A M R O F N I T L W T T O P E Y L A L E L F R G P C S I I A S R E T T I M S N A R T O R U E N I

E Y E P K S U C C E S S F U L A G I N G T U E O Y L W I N O I N F F E I O S I A L A D G Y M A A X A M M T I U T N H S O C K C T S S T N E M G D U J O L T L E E L N G N A N E S P A N Y S A I T S X H D A Y S D T G I M
plasticity cognition learning memory axons neurotransmitters hippocampus neurogenesis wisdom self efficacy amygdala successful aging multitasking synapse lobe education social experience ability attention language executive function judgment engage connection information thought action myelination focus conceptual challenge

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Staying Sharp: Here's to your vascular health!

Eating well and controlling vascular risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and stress may contribute to the maintenance of cognitive function throughout life. Below are some key words related to diet, exercise, and vascular health. For more information please read the Staying Sharp booklet Successful Aging and Your Brain from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, www.dana.org. Words may appear in all directions, including diagonally and backwards.

G R P I S G T A B A T O E C O N S R N E M C S E S D U E D E X H E A R T D I S E A S E S O C U L G D O O L B B A K R V R S S X N E O E S I R E I OM F E E I N O I L T N T OW I A N T T E T C A R D I O V A S C U L A R E A B M T O R C T S W I E T R I E S U T R B T T E I D T T E U I G E A T E A P K E E E I CO T O S M Y I A S I N O I T I R T U N S R M A S F A R F U I X P O S I N C Y WO U I E A E O I S T I I Y S E A S L L A S I C S E L B A T E G E V A S B G X R R N K T P V C E G L O E D P S R O T C A F H T W O R G E E E D E G L Y D T I U R D B A E Y P Y L T R D H T WW E GN T C P N N R A G O R H W K I N E F D W E I G H T M A N A G E M E N T I E S WR O A C T R T L B O I O V C M I T N F T I S L F S A K O R A R L F S MA S S B O D Y I N D E X G H W N I S O E S L S X G E A Y S A B C H O L E S T E R O L M S I O S T A H A A A A O Y C S E E S A O E B E L Y T I L I B I X E L F I E WW C B M L A A
risk factor stroke diabetes heart disease obesity diet exercise cardiovascular calories nutrition vitamin D weight management blood pressure cholesterol water vegetables wholegrain lowfat food pyramid aerobic activity walking strength flexibility balance sleep energy antioxidants blood glucose walking sports neurogenesis growth factors mass body index

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Staying Sharp: The Aging Brain

Brain disorders and diseases are among the most feared medical problems. But becoming well-informed about serious neurological conditions that may develop can help allay those fearsand can help you respond if you or someone you love develops one. Below are some key words related to late-life brain disorders. For more information please read the Staying Sharp booklet Successful Aging and Your Brain from the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and visit the Dana Foundation at www.dana.org. Words may appear in all directions, including diagonally and backwards.

A R T O P M A T E K E P N D T H O C A A N O I T R I N M Y I R V V A O L R W A R N I N G S I G N S N O S N I K R A P T U P R I R A E P V G R E K O R T S C I M E H C S I N V A N A S E N T I A S K A B N U I I S T R N T R E Y H M M A R E A T K K N S T I I R M G T R S S V C C S R E R A P H S E M N P R I T A M H A E R N D E O I N I A P C I N O R H C H E E R A L Z H E I M E R S R M S I T E I R A L T I E H U T D N M M L E P N E U R O T R A N S M I T T E R S R V V L T I V V O E T A T O O W S T A P O V Y A R R S G A E E O A H C P O I R T A S R A N E K P N N S H M G H E L I E N M R T A P T B T Y S U P P O R T G R O U P C P I T P O V T E O S T I R A M Y L O I D P L A Q U E H S T O T N R Y C I T G R I S C R T U C O T N O I S S E R P E D T S O G A H O N O M O K T M S A M C S K D O N N S E T P G K N L M N I N E G M N I I I I A M R N S E L G N A T U A T T N I R S Z I M N N
dementia Alzheimers vascular memory loss genes Tau tangles treatments neuroimaging diagnostic test amyloid plaque caregiving MRI brain attack depression hypertension ischemic stroke Parkinsons neurotransmitters warning signs medication prevention chronic pain aphasia stress support group therapy symptoms tremor biomarker arthritis painkiller

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Get moving! jumble

Unscramble the words below to see what regular exercise can do for your body (hint: for help for some answers, and for more information about exercise and your brain, see the Staying Sharp booklet Successful Aging and Your Brain, www.dana.org). Once you figure out the answers, unscramble the highlighted letters to answer the riddle (two letters have been filled in for you):

What happened to the mollusk that went to the gym? It ________ ___ _________ !

Regular exercise can... Prevent BIOTYSE

Promote...

SOENIEGESNUR

Boost

DOMO

Slow

NEBO SOLS

Decease risk of some

SIAEDSES

Increase Combat high blood

REGNYE

PERURESS

Improve overall

HHTELA

L !

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Keep Your Memory Sharp jumble

The following jumbled words are skills you can practice to help keep your memory sharp (hint: weve underlined the first letter of each word for you). Once you figure out the answers, unscramble the highlighted letters to answer the riddle (one letter has been filled in for you):

Why do reptiles have such good memories? Because they have ________ _________ !
What may seem like a faltering memory may in fact be a decline in the rate at which we learn and store new information. Visit www.dana.org for more information on memory, and practice these memory skills to enhance learning and make remembering easier:

XEARL RENNECATCTO COSFU LSWO NOWD NAOZIGRE WITRE PETREA IUZAVISLE ICESTAASO

T
Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Brain Quote Cryptograms

The following cryptograms are all quotes about the brain, with the names of their authors. Some of the letters have been filled in to give you a head start. See how many you can solve! Visit www.dana.org for more information on the brain and neuroscience.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

The Sci-Fi Brain

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

The Poetry of the Brain

Beam Me Up!

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Oh, the places you'll go!

Renaissance Brain

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

A Simple Problem?

An Ancient view?

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Brain Diseases and Disorders

Nearly one in five Americans is afflicted with a brain disorder conditions that range from learning disabilities to depression to traumatic brain injury. Did you know that all of the following diseases and disorders are related to the brain? See how many you can find, and then visit the Dana Foundation at www.dana.org to learn more. Words may appear in all directions, including diagonally and backwards.

D D S Y S L A P L A R B E R E C D E R H R S N S O T I B I S I A I R R E I D E M E O N I S P I N A L C O R D I N J U R Y S O S C E P N Y N E A E I N I S A E E O T A P R D C A Y D S H A Y R D D E S A N S I F E S P I N A B I F I D A I S Y E P I L L P R E R T S T C E F E D H T R I B L I N D N E S S U E N N A Y O P H O P A R K I N S O N S Y C D N O I O R E U O L G I R R S R P N S L D P Y H P O R T S Y D R A L U C S U M I L O A L I E O I S I I D X A A E E O S K N I H S A A S E I P

E D P P D S Z A E L D A I L I I O L C A A T S U C I E R G E S K E L G S I D E L M P O T X X E L N R E L T O O Y N T R T N Y O G N I H D B N D P E N I X A L Z H E I M E R S F R A N B I R R I O C B P E I O A E I O Z T O S S A U A A D A I A N I P T N S L I S A A L A L I N L A M A L I I S

I T I E L N S

P L R P A S E E E S A E S I D S G I R H E G U O L A D R E E T P N N E M O R D N Y S E T T E R U O T E M A M L O P R E Z

Addition Alzheimers Anxiety Ataxia Autism Birth defects Blindness Cerebral Palsy Coma Deafness Depression

Dyslexia Dystonia Eating disorders Epilepsy Lou Gehrigs Disease Mental illness Migraine Muscular Dystrophy Pain Panic disorder Paralysis
Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Parkinsons Schizophrenia Shingles Sleep disorders Spina Bifida Spinal Cord Injury Stroke Tourette syndrome

Words in a word puzzle

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system, including their structure, function, and disorders. How many four- and five-letter common English words (no proper names or abbreviations) can you find in the word NEUROSCIENCE? We found 49 four letter words and 53 five letter words. See how many you can find, and then check your words against ours in the answer key. Good luck! Visit www.dana.org for more information about the brain and neuroscience.

NEUROSCIENCE
Four letter words: _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________
How many did you find? _________ Five letter words: _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________
How many did you find? _________

If youre ready for a bigger challenge, see how many six letter words you can find!
Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Brain-y Crossword
Use the Dana Alliances Mindboggling booklet series and Q&A: Answering Your Questions About Brain Research, available at www.dana.org, to solve this BRAIN-Y crossword puzzle!

ACROSS
4. One of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders that greatly reduces a persons memory. 5. The general name for the chemicals that are released by one neuron and taken up by another. 6. The branches of a neuron on which information is usually received. 7. You have more than 100 _______ neurons. (spell out the number) 8. An area of the brain located deep inside the brain and involved in memory. 13. What does the I in MRI stand for? 14. The part of the brain that connects directly with the spinal cord and is responsible for some of the automatic functions of the body.

DOWN
1. The tennis ball-sized area at the back of the brain responsible for balance and movement, as well as some types of memory. 2. The nerve cells in the brain. 3. The long, tail-like branch that extends from a neurons cell body and transmits information. 5. The exploration of ethical issues surrounding advances in neuroscience. 9. The brains ability to adapt and rewire its synaptic connections. 10. The area of the brain involved with emotions, especially fear, anger, and happiness. 11. The pathway for nerve signals to and from the brain. (two words, no space) 12. The junctions where neurons make connections to one another.

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Answer Key
Staying Sharp: Tenets of Successful Brain Aging word search:

Staying Sharp: Learning as we Age word search:

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Staying Sharp: Here's to your vascular health! word search:

Staying Sharp: The Aging Brain word search:

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Get Moving! jumble:

PreventOBESITY Promote...NEUROGENESIS BoostMOOD SlowBONE LOSS Decease risk of someDISEASES IncreaseENERGY Combat high bloodPRESSURE Improve overallHEALTH What happened to the mollusk that went to the gym? It PULLED A MUSSEL!

Keep Your Memory Sharp jumble:

RELAX CONCENTRATE FOCUS SLOW DOWN ORGANIZE WRITE REPEAT VISUALIZE ASSOCIATE Why do reptiles have such good memories? Because they have TURTLE RECALL!

Brain Quote Cryptograms:

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: And my head I'd be scratching while my thoughts were busy hatching. If I only had a brain. --The Scarecrow The Sci-Fi Brain: The human brain, then, is the most complicated organization of matter that we know. --Isaac Asimov The Poetry of the Brain: The brain is wider than the sky, for put them side by side, the one the other will contain, with ease and you beside. --Emily Dickinson Beam Me Up! : The knowledge to reconnect a brain does not exist yet in the galaxy. --Mr. Spock Oh, the places you'll go!: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. --Dr. Suess Renaissance Brain: A man paints with his brains and not with his hands, and if he cannot have his brains clear he will come to grief. --Michelangelo A simple problem?: If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn't. --Emerson M. Pugh An ancient view? : Men ought to know that from the brain, and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joy, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs, and tears. --Hippocrates

Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Brain Diseases and Disorders word search

Words in a word puzzle

The 49 four-letter words we found in NEUROSCIENCE are:
coin cone cons core corn cues cure curs ecru eons euro ices icon inns ions iron neon nice nine none nose noun nuns once ones onus ores ours rein rice rise roes rose rues ruin rune runs ruse seen seer sere sine sire sore sour sure uric urns user

The 53 five-letter words we found in NEUROSCIENCE are:

coins cones conic cores corns cries crone cures curie curio curse eerie ennui ensue icons incur inner inure irons nicer niece nines noise nonce norse nouns nurse occur osier ounce reins resin reuse rinse risen rosin rouse ruins runes scene scion scone score scorn scour seine since siren sneer snore sonic union urine

Brain-y Crossword
ACROSS: 4. Alzheimers, 5. neurotransmitters, 6. dendrites, 7. billion, 8. hippocampus, 13. imaging, 14. brainstem DOWN: 1. cerebellum, 2. neurons, 3. axon, 5. neuroethics, 9. plasticity, 10. amygdala, 11. spinal cord 12. synapses
Puzzle by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives