Sudoku and Brain Health: What the Research Says
I looked this up. The science is there but it's not a miracle. Quick version.
It's real. There is actual research to back it up. In a study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, researchers found adults who regularly engaged in number puzzles showed significant improvements in attention, cognitive function and memory. I'm not a scientist so take it for what it's worth.
Someone informed me that my brain has a cognitive reserve kind of like a spare highway for my mind to drive on. Exercises such as puzzles, learning a new language and playing music supposedly increase the size of the highway thus enabling the mind to handle more. Yes, because doing Sudoku is apparently good for my brain. Don't get me wrong, I love Sudoku but I'm not sure it's a scientifically proven fact.
Sudoku works the working memory because when trying to work out which number to put in a space you have to hold the numbers you think could be right in your working memory until you work out which is correct by referring to the rows and columns. I am not sure that there are any lasting effects though, all I feel is a slight ache in my working memory every time I have to concentrate so hard.
NO ONE IS TELLING YOU THAT DOING ONE THING WILL CHANGE YOUR BRAIN. You have to exercise, get enough sleep, build relationships and engage in mentally stimulating activities, like puzzles and games, such as Sudoku.
Old or young, it is no problem at all. All you need is a pen, paper or an app in which you can insert numbers. It's easy to start with simple puzzles and you can always increase or decrease the level of difficulty as you like.