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Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

nhs.uk

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Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#71

Post by thom »

jspash wrote: post #69

As an aside, the NHS website is an absolute joy to use. From the legibility of the type to the navigation, also the style of writing is generally top notch IMHO. Regarding the design, I remember when Google products gave me a similar feeling. Sadly, with "Material Design" usability has sunk to some weird place where I continually ask "where do i click? what CAN i click? stop sliding things around!" in frustration. Ap…

Worth pointing out that a lot of the good work NHS Digital do is inspired[1] by approach that the Government Digital Service did on other public service sites[2]. Over the last 5-10 years, basically every UK government website I've had to click on has slowly become sane and usable because of the GDS's work.

1: https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2018/definin...

2: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#73

Post by danieltillett »

mjfl wrote: post #68
danieltillett wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not really a mutant gene, just one of the variant genes found in the human population. Unfortunately the APOE4 variant is rather bad to have and a major risk factor for Alzheimers. Are you homo or heterozygous for E4?

heterozygous

That is good. Your risk is higher, but nowhere near as high as for homozygous E4 carriers. Assuming you are youngish it is a problem a long way off and with luck there will be progress in curing or preventing Alzheimer's before you really have to worry.

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#74

Post by qwerty456127 »

thom wrote: post #71
jspash wrote: post #69

As an aside, the NHS website is an absolute joy to use. From the legibility of the type to the navigation, also the style of writing is generally top notch IMHO. Regarding the design, I remember when Google products gave me a similar feeling. Sadly, with "Material Design" usability has sunk to some weird place where I continually ask "where do i click? what CAN i click? stop sliding things around!" in frustration. Ap…

Worth pointing out that a lot of the good work NHS Digital do is inspired[1] by approach that the Government Digital Service did on other public service sites[2]. Over the last 5-10 years, basically every UK government website I've had to click on has slowly become sane and usable because of the GDS's work. 1: https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2018/definin... 2: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service…

Other governments all over the world should really copy that...

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#75

Post by MarkMc »

thom wrote: post #71
jspash wrote: post #69

As an aside, the NHS website is an absolute joy to use. From the legibility of the type to the navigation, also the style of writing is generally top notch IMHO. Regarding the design, I remember when Google products gave me a similar feeling. Sadly, with "Material Design" usability has sunk to some weird place where I continually ask "where do i click? what CAN i click? stop sliding things around!" in frustration. Ap…

Worth pointing out that a lot of the good work NHS Digital do is inspired[1] by approach that the Government Digital Service did on other public service sites[2]. Over the last 5-10 years, basically every UK government website I've had to click on has slowly become sane and usable because of the GDS's work. 1: https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2018/definin... 2: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service…

I agree - I'm writing code to submit VAT returns online and am impressed by the clear documentation and REST API provided by HMRC: https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation/docs...

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#76

Post by qwerty456127 »

anongraddebt wrote: post #61

FWIW, I told a good friend to get her dementia-diagnosed father on a schedule of daily Dual N-Back training using open source programs (e.g. Brainworkshop). She asked his neurologist how effective this would be and he basically said, "it's the only cognitive training that could do anything." Not only is Dual N-Back a great mental workout, but it will also put you to sleep pretty quickly if you set the parameters such…

Is there any scientific evidence behind "the real benefits come when you get (2) maxed out while keeping an N-Back of 3"? Sounds really curious to know.

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#77

Post by torben-friis »

qwerty456127 wrote: post #74
thom wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worth pointing out that a lot of the good work NHS Digital do is inspired[1] by approach that the Government Digital Service did on other public service sites[2]. Over the last 5-10 years, basically every UK government website I've had to click on has slowly become sane and usable because of the GDS's work. 1: https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2018/definin... 2: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service…

Other governments all over the world should really copy that...

Absolutely. I can tell apart my country's official government sites from scams because the legit one will give warnings about it being potentially dangerous... Certificates that won't work, services that can only be used during business hours, and similar dumbfounding behaviour is all over the place.

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#78

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

thom wrote: post #71
jspash wrote: post #69

As an aside, the NHS website is an absolute joy to use. From the legibility of the type to the navigation, also the style of writing is generally top notch IMHO. Regarding the design, I remember when Google products gave me a similar feeling. Sadly, with "Material Design" usability has sunk to some weird place where I continually ask "where do i click? what CAN i click? stop sliding things around!" in frustration. Ap…

Worth pointing out that a lot of the good work NHS Digital do is inspired[1] by approach that the Government Digital Service did on other public service sites[2]. Over the last 5-10 years, basically every UK government website I've had to click on has slowly become sane and usable because of the GDS's work. 1: https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2018/definin... 2: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service…

GDS are really very good.

The UK has a lot of political problems. But we also have some seriously talented people doing absolutely outstanding work.

Re: Puzzle-solving 'doesn't slow down mental decline in older people'

#80

Post by gnode »

TangoTrotFox wrote: post #60

Chess seems to show the opposite. In particular speak with literally just about any older grandmaster and you'll invariably find their mental faculties are still in great shape. Of course there's always a correlation != causation problem that plagues all sort of social studies. This observation does not necessarily mean that becoming a grandmaster would slow mental decline. It could simply be something within the ind…

> It could simply be something within the individuals that drives them to become grandmasters that itself is what staves off the decline.

Or it could just be survival bias. If your mental faculties are in decline, then you would be disinclined to continue competing in chess. I can imagine people would stop competing at that level long before they completely lost their marbles.

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