Brainteasers can come in many different shapes and sizes. Traditionally there are three main types, observational, analytical, and mathematical.
Mathematical brainteasers ask users to solve a maths puzzle as quickly as they can whilst analytical brainteasers require them to solve a riddle.
Observational brainteasers, like the one above created by The Post, require someone to spot the anomalies or anomalies within an image.
On this occasion, the image above is an optical illusion which appears to be two people and a group of animals. The task is to try and identify all 11 animals within the image as quickly as possible.
Did you spot all the answers? No worries if not, the answers are circled above. The animals squeezed into the image above include a wolf, an elephant, a snake, two pigeons, two fish, a rabbit, a swan and a cow.
Brainteasers like this one are key to stimulating the mind and giving it some exercise. Brainteasers exercise the mind in the same way running, cycling or swimming exercise the muscles in the arms and legs.
This all contributes to neurological health and the healthier the brain is the less likely it could be to develop neurological conditions in the long term. This doesn’t mean that brainteasers will stop someone from developing dementia, but they can help keep a mind sharper for longer.
Dementia is one of the most devastating conditions in the world and the number of patients is growing steadily with no cure yet in sight. Last year it was revealed that the number of people living with the condition could rise to 1.7 million by 2040.
Speaking about the ramifications of the research, chief medical officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK Professor Jonathan Schott said: “Decades of hard work have brought us to a tipping point – particularly with the first new Alzheimer’s drugs in over 20 years finally on the horizon.
“We’re also seeing revolutionary new diagnostics showing real promise, with blood tests for Alzheimer’s now poised to enter the clinic. So, while the findings of this report are concerning, there is hope and optimism on the horizon too.”
