True or false? Solving puzzles and other “mental gymnastics” keeps the aging brain healthy.

a) False. Mental exercises won't keep your brain sharp in later life.

b) True. New evidence suggests that intellectual activities help adults avoid dementia.
c) Scientists have yet to demonstrate one way or the other that mental exercises are of value in maintaining health.

Recent studies of aging adults have shown that those who engage in intellectually stimulating activities seem better able to hang on to their thinking abilities—a view captured in the old adage “use it or lose it.” However, the findings are still limited, and researchers have yet to determine which activities offer the most potential benefit.