Why real cognitive protection requires the deep frustration of being a beginner again.
By Neil D'Monte, Palmelle Editorial Team · Reviewed by Neil D'Monte · 7 min read · 2026-06-09
For years, we've been told that doing the daily crossword is the mental equivalent of a gym workout. It isn't. Solving a puzzle you already know how to approach is just your brain idling in a comfortable groove. If you want to actually build cognitive reserve after sixty, you have to do something much harder: you have to be willing to look foolish and feel frustrated.
