Keep Your Mind Sharp with Brain Teasers

Most people can recall doing a brain teaser or two during their formative years, mostly in a classroom setting. Those who enjoyed them often still do various word or math puzzles and other brain teasers simply for the challenge.
However, the big question when it comes to brain teasers is: Do they actually help to keep your mind young or are they simply a way to pass time?

Advocates of brain games say that by regularly exercising the mind, you keep it in good condition. In fact, Patti Celori, executive director of the New England Cognitive Center, recently told Wired News, that people often stop exercising at the neck, when in fact your brain should have regular workouts as well. "The brain is the CPU of our body, and most people don't do much to keep it as fit as possible," she said. 

Seniors and young people are among those who benefit most from frequent brain exercises. Recently, 20-year-old Leyan Lo set a world record for solving the Rubik's Cube in just 11 seconds. Lo, who attends the California Institute of Technology, set the record at a competition held by Caltech's Rubik's Cube Club, of which he is a member.
Lo broke the record previously set by Jean Pons, a Frenchman, last year at the Dutch Open. Pons had a record of 11.75 seconds.

He also tried, at the event, to gain the overall champion title. However, he lost to 15-year-old, Shotaro "Macky" Makisumi, who is considered to be the fastest Rubik's Cube solver in the world.

Makisumi says he didn't have a particular secret to winning the tournament. "I don't know. Faster first two layers," he said. Faster first two layers meant that he solved the first two layers before he moved on the last, saying this was his way of winning the competition.

So, what is the benefit of challenging yourself to break records and master mind games?