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Nursing Crossword Puzzle

The good news: across the globe, people are living longer. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people in the world will be 60 years or older by 2030. That translates to a senior population of 1.4 billion, up from 1 billion in 2020. By 2050, that population will have doubled.  

As the population ages, the demand for anti-aging products, services, and procedures also swells. Experts expect the anti-aging market to see continual growth, bringing in over $421.4 billion in revenue by the year 2030.  

Even so, no amount of anti-aging procedures can stop the march of time. The process of aging is a process of slowing down: physically and, for some, mentally. Encouragingly, the incidence rates of Alzheimer’s disease (number of diagnosed individuals per 100,000) is decreasing. Due to the increase in aging population, however, experts expect the overall number of people with Alzheimer’s to grow. The Alzheimer’s Association anticipates upwards of 12.7 million people to have Alzheimer’s by 2050.    

The key risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia is aging. However, there is encouraging news. Dementia is not inevitable. In fact, researchers at Columbia University have determined that, absent comorbidities, aging adults can take steps to stave off cognitive decline, and even improve their cognitive abilities. 

Related: Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: Symptoms, Stages, and Communication Strategies Expanded

Concentration, memory, and a nursing crossword puzzle

A recent study “found that people with mild memory problems who did web-based crossword puzzles showed improvement in cognition and experienced less brain shrinkage, compared to those who played web-based cognitive games.” 

A quick and easy way to incorporate this form of mindfulness into a daily routine is to start each morning with a simple word game. This practice sets the tone for the day and allows the player to exercise their mind in a low-stress, low stakes environment.  

No matter what age, nurses and other healthcare professionals can benefit from the mental exercise of word games. Here’s a quick downloadable nursing crossword puzzle to help keep your mind sharp!