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Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ziyad-al-aly-513663">Ziyad Al-Aly</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/washington-university-in-st-louis-732">Washington University in St. Louis</a> Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html">widespread disability</a> affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing economies billions of dollars in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-impacts-of-long-covid-across-oecd-countries_8bd08383-en.html">reduced productivity of employees and an overall drop in the work force</a>. The intense scientific effort that long COVID sparked has resulted in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22long+covid%22+or+%22pasc%22+or+%22post-acute+sequelae+of+covid-19%22+or+%22postacute+sequelae+of+covid-19%22+or+%22post-acute+sequelae+of+SARS-CoV-2%22+or+%22postacute+sequelae+of+SARS-CoV-2%22+or+%22post+covid+condition%22+or+%22post+covid+conditions%22+or+%E2%80%9Cchronic+covid-19%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cpost+covid-19+condition%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cpost+covid-19+conditions%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cpost-covid+condition%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cpost-covid+conditions%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Clong+covid-19%E2%80%9D+or+%28%22long-term%22+and+%22COVID-19%22%29+or+%28%22longterm%22+and+%22COVID-19%22%29+or+%28%22long-term%22+and+%22SARS-CoV-2%22%29+or+%28%22longterm%22+and+%22SARS-CoV-2%22%29+or+%E2%80%9Cpostcovid+condition%E2%80%9D+or+%E2%80%9Cpostcovid+conditions%E2%80%9D+&sort=date">more than 24,000 scientific publications</a>, making it the most researched health condition in any four years of recorded human history. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html">Long COVID</a> is a term that describes the <a href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/long-covid-post-covid-conditions-pcc">constellation of long-term health effects</a> caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These range from persistent respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, to debilitating fatigue or brain fog that limits people’s ability to work, and conditions such as heart failure and diabetes, which are known to last a lifetime. I am a physician scientist, and I have been deeply immersed in studying long COVID since the early days of the pandemic. I have testified before the U.S. Senate as an <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/baf4e4e7-b423-6bef-7cb4-1b272df66eb8/Al-Aly%20Testimony.pdf">expert witness on long COVID</a>, have <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=DtuRVcUAAAAJ">published extensively on it</a> and was named as one of <a href="https://time.com/6966812/ziyad-al-aly/">Time’s 100 most influential people in health in 2024</a> for my research in this area. Over the first half of 2024, a <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/long-term-health-effects-stemming-from-covid-19-and-implications-for-the-social-security-administration#sl-three-columns-afa91458-20e0-42ab-9bd6-55e3c8262ecc">flurry of reports</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2403211">scientific papers</a> on long COVID added clarity to this complex condition. These include, in particular, insights into how COVID-19 can still wreak havoc in many organs years after the initial viral infection, as well as emerging evidence on viral persistence and immune dysfunction that last for months or years after initial infection. <h2>How long COVID affects the body</h2> A new study that my colleagues and I published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 17, 2024, shows that the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2403211">risk of long COVID declined</a> over the course of the pandemic. In 2020, when the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2 was dominant and vaccines were not available, about 10.4% of adults who got COVID-19 developed long COVID. By early 2022, when the omicron family of variants predominated, that rate declined to 7.7% among unvaccinated adults and 3.5% of vaccinated adults. In other words, unvaccinated people were more than twice as likely to develop long COVID. While researchers like me do not yet have concrete numbers for the current rate in mid-2024 due to the time it takes for long COVID cases to be reflected in the data, the flow of new patients into long COVID clinics has been on par with 2022. We found that the decline was the result of two key drivers: availability of vaccines and changes in the characteristics of the virus – which made the virus less prone to cause severe acute infections and may have reduced its ability to persist in the human body long enough to cause chronic disease. Despite the decline in risk of developing long COVID, even a 3.5% risk is substantial. New and repeat COVID-19 infections translate into millions of new long COVID cases that add to an already staggering number of people suffering from this condition. Estimates for the first year of the pandemic suggests that at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00896-0">least 65 million people</a> globally have had long COVID. Along with a group of other leading scientists, my team will soon publish updated estimates of the global burden of long COVID and its impact on the global economy through 2023. In addition, a major new report by the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine details all the <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27756/long-term-health-effects-of-covid-19-disability-and-function">health effects that constitute long COVID</a>. The report was commissioned by the Social Security Administration to understand the implications of long COVID on its disability benefits. It concludes that long COVID is a complex chronic condition that can result in more than 200 health effects across multiple body systems. These include new onset or worsening: <ul> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01689-3">heart disease</a></li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02001-z">neurologic problems</a> such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-224216">cognitive impairment</a>, strokes and <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6004-dysautonomia">dysautonomia</a>. This is a category of disorders that affect the body’s <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23273-autonomic-nervous-system">autonomic nervous system</a> – nerves that regulate most of the body’s vital mechanisms such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.</li> <li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/hcp/clinical-care/treating-the-most-disruptive-symptoms-first-and-preventing-worsening-of-symptoms.html">post-exertional malaise</a>, a state of severe exhaustion that may happen after even minor activity — often leaving the patient unable to function for hours, days or weeks</li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36223-7">gastrointestinal disorders</a></li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2021060734">kidney disease</a></li> <li>metabolic disorders such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00044-4">diabetes</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00355-2">hyperlipidemia</a>, or a rise in bad cholesterol</li> <li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01724-6">immune dysfunction</a></li> </ul> Long COVID can affect people across the lifespan from children to older adults and across race and ethnicity and baseline health status. Importantly, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl0867">more than 90% of people with long COVID</a> had mild COVID-19 infections. The National Academies report also concluded that long COVID can result in the inability to return to work or school; poor quality of life; diminished ability to perform activities of daily living; and decreased physical and cognitive function for months or years after the initial infection. The report points out that many health effects of long COVID, such as post-exertional malaise and chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment and autonomic dysfunction, are not currently captured in the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm">Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments</a>, yet may significantly affect an individual’s ability to participate in work or school. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9kJ5GWb2wzw?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Many people experience long COVID symptoms for years following initial infection.</figcaption></figure> <h2>A long road ahead</h2> What’s more, health problems resulting from COVID-19 can last years after the initial infection. A large study published in early 2024 showed that even people who had a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02987-8">mild SARS-CoV-2 infection still experienced new health problems</a> related to COVID-19 in the third year after the initial infection. Such findings parallel other research showing that the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00171-3">virus persists</a> in various organ systems for months or years after COVID-19 infection. And research is showing that immune responses to the infection are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adk3295">still evident two to three years</a> after a mild infection. Together, these studies may explain why a SARS-CoV-2 infection years ago could still cause new health problems long after the initial infection. Important progress is also being made in understanding the pathways by which long COVID wreaks havoc on the body. Two preliminary studies <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.18.24309100">from the U.S.</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.30.596590">the Netherlands</a> show that when researchers transfer auto-antibodies – antibodies generated by a person’s immune system that are directed at their own tissues and organs – from people with long COVID into healthy mice, the animals start to experience long COVID-like symptoms such as muscle weakness and poor balance. These studies suggest that an abnormal immune response thought to be responsible for the generation of these auto-antibodies may underlie long COVID and that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.zbzipqn">removing these auto-antibodies</a> may hold promise as potential treatments. <h2>An ongoing threat</h2> Despite overwhelming evidence of the wide-ranging risks of COVID-19, a great deal of messaging suggests that it is no longer a threat to the public. Although there is no empirical evidence to back this up, this misinformation has permeated the public narrative. The data, however, tells a different story. <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">COVID-19 infections</a> continue to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm">outnumber flu cases</a> and lead to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/index.html">more hospitalization</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.7395">death</a> than the flu. COVID-19 also leads to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00684-9">more serious long-term health problems</a>. Trivializing COVID-19 as an inconsequential cold or <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/02/covid-anniversary-flu-isolation-cdc/677588/">equating it with the flu</a> does not align with reality.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233759/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ziyad-al-aly-513663">Ziyad Al-Aly</a>, Chief of Research and Development, VA St. Louis Health Care System. Clinical Epidemiologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/washington-university-in-st-louis-732">Washington University in St. Louis</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/long-covid-puzzle-pieces-are-falling-into-place-the-picture-is-unsettling-233759">original article</a>. </div>

Body

"Like the cash cow had come out": Commuters puzzled by money bundles on motorway

Motorists in Perth have been left puzzled after bundles of cash were spotted flying across a motorway. On Monday evening, several members of the public called Western Australia police after up to $40,000 in cold hard cash was seen flying across the Mitchell Fwy in Connolly, in the city’s northern suburbs. According to Commissioner Col Blanch, honest civilians bundled up some of the mysterious money and “came forward with large wads of cash”. “We believe that up to $40,000 has been recovered,” he said. Police believe that the money came from an alleged drug deal gone wrong, but the incident is still under investigation. "It looks like it was a total fiasco by the person involved and probably not one of our smartest (alleged) offenders," Mr Blanch said. "It's like the cash cow had come out, and there was cash flying everywhere." "There's no more money on the freeway … let's not go there." After police attended the scene, they arrested a man close by who had another $8,000 in his possession, along with 51g of cocaine. Despite some people stopping to retrieve the money to hand over to police, the free money prompted some motorists to stop their cars to retrieve a share for themselves. Talk on social media suggested one commuter even pocketed about $10,000. Image credits: WA Police

Travel Trouble

More than a game: Crosswords and puzzles may reduce dementia risk

Playing games, doing crosswords, writing letters or learning something new are all associated with reduced dementia risk in older adults, according to a large, long-term study. A team of Melbourne and US-based researchers study tracked 10,318 older Australians over a period of ten years (2010 to 2020), collecting detailed information on the types of leisure activities they engaged in, along with regular health checks and cognitive assessments. The study is <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807256" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in JAMA Network Open. Paper co-author Dr Joanne Ryan from Monash University says “the findings show that engaging in mentally stimulating activities can help preserve cognitive function and may help delay the onset of dementia.” “We know the importance of physical activity. We need to think about helping to keep our mind stimulated as well.” <iframe title="Why do Women Live Longer than Men? And What About Gender Diverse People?" src="https://omny.fm/shows/huh-science-explained/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men-and-what-about-g/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=Cover" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0"></iframe> Adult literacy activities such as writing, using a computer or taking education classes were associated with an 11% lower risk of dementia, the study found. Active mental health activities such as playing games or doing puzzles were associated with a 9% lower risk. Creative activities like craft or woodwork and passive mental activities (reading books, watching television or listening to the radio) also reduced risks but to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, social activities were not associated with dementia risk. Ryan says this was a “little bit unexpected”. But she says it’s possible one of the reasons is those who volunteered to participate in the study were broadly already socially engaged. The median age of those participating in the study was 73.8 years. Around 2% of the cohort participating in the study developed dementia, Ryan says. Dementia risk varies depending on age and health status of individuals, she says. For instance, “we know that the risk of dementia actually increases exponentially as you get then over 80 years and over 90 years,” she says. Image credits: Getty Images <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/more-than-a-game-crosswords-and-puzzles-may-reduce-dementia-risk/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock">Petra Stock</a>. </div>

Mind

Puzzles April 2023 Answers

The Free OverSixty Newspaper is regularly with Crosswords, Sudokus, Word Finders and more for your entertainment and to keep that grey matter limbered up. So! Without further ado, here are the solutions to <a href="https://over60newspapers.azurewebsites.net/OverSixty_April_2023_Digital/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all of the puzzles from the April 2023 issue</a> of the FREE OverSixty Newspaper. Enjoy! Crosswise Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Crosswise_solution_april2023.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1276" /> Sudoko Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/04/Sudoku_solution_april2023.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1245" /> Before and After Answer: MOUTH [ PIECE ] MEAL Word Finder Answers: We found all of these words below in this issue's Word Finder. Did you find any more? Let us know via <a href="mailto:newspaper@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">newspaper@oversixty.com.au</a> <ol> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">EIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ERG</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FOE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FOES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FOR</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FORE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FORESIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FORT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FORTH</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FREIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FRIES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FRIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FRO</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FROTH</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">GIRT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">FIRTH</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">GRIEF</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">GROT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HIE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HIRE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HIRES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HIS</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HOE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HOER</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HOERS</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HOES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HORSE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">HOT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">IRE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">IRES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ORE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ORES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ORGIES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ORT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">REF</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">RHO</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">RIG</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">RIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">RISE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ROE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ROES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ROT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">ROTH</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SERF</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SIGH</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SIGHT</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SIR</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">SIRE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THIEF</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THIS</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THOR</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THRO</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THROE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THROES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TOE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TOES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TOR</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORE</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORI</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORIES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORS</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TORSI</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TREF</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TRIES</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">TRIG</li> </ol> Word Pyramid Answer: For this puzzle you were given a number of clues. The first answer had two letters, the second three letters, the third four – and so on. Each answer consisted of the same letters as the previous one with the addition of one letter. SOLUTION: French article (LE) Falsehood (LIE) Reside (LIVE) Large organ (LIVER) Splinter (SLIVER) Word Circles Answer: We asked you to unscramble the letters in each circle to produce two words that are opposite in meaning to each other. SOLUTION: EQUALITY, IMPARITY

Mind

Researchers puzzled by results of anti-inflammatory medications for osteoarthritis

Researchers in the US are calling for a re-evaluation of the way some well known painkillers are prescribed after research showed they may actually lead to a worsening of inflammation over time in osteoarthritis-affected knee joints. NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are designed to reduce inflammation for the estimated 2.2 million Australians suffering from the sometimes debilitating effects of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition affecting joints in the body – most commonly hips, knees, ankles, spine and hands – which results from the degradation of cartilage on the ends of bones within the joints. As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub together resulting in swelling, pain and restricted movement. To combat this pain and swelling, NSAIDs are commonly prescribed, however the long-term impact of this type of medication is unclear, including its effect on the progression of the condition. “To date, no curative therapy has been approved to cure or reduce the progression of knee osteoarthritis,” said the study’s lead author, Johanna Luitjens, from the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. “NSAIDs are frequently used to treat pain, but it is still an open discussion of how NSAID use influences outcomes for osteoarthritis patients. Surprisingly the report says: “…the impact of NSAIDs on synovitis, or the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, has never been analysed using MRI-based structural biomarkers.” The study compared 793 participants with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee who did not use NSAIDs, with 277 patients who received sustained treatment with NSAIDs for more than a year. Each patient underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of the joint, which were then repeated after four years. The researchers were able to assess the images for indications of inflammation and arthritis progression including cartilage thickness and composition. The data showed the group using NSAIDs, had worse joint inflammation and cartilage quality than those not using NSAIDs, at the time of the initial MRI scan. And the follow-up imaging showed the conditions had worsened for the NSAID group. “In this large group of participants, we were able to show that there were no protective mechanisms from NSAIDs in reducing inflammation or slowing down progression of osteoarthritis of the knee joint,” said Luitjens. According to Luitjens, the common practice of prescribing NSAIDs for osteoarthritis should be revisited as there doesn’t appear to be any evidence they have a positive impact on joint inflammation nor do they slow or prevent synovitis or degenerative changes in the joint. There is also a possibility that NSAIDs simply mask the pain. Despite adjusting the study’s model for individual levels of patient physical activity, “patients who have synovitis and are taking pain-relieving medications may be physically more active due to pain relief, which could potentially lead to worsening of synovitis,” said Luitjens. Luitjens hopes future studies will better characterise NSAIDs and their impact on osteoarthritic inflammation. With one in three people over the age of 75 in Australia suffering from osteoarthritis and an estimated one in 10 women and one in 16 men set to develop it in the future, unlocking treatment options for this crippling condition is an imperative. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/osteoarthritis-puzzled-antiinflammatory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Clare Kenyon. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Puzzles Issue 2 2022 Answers

Spring is in full swing, and while there are few things more satisfying than glimpses of sunshine and watching the flowers bloom, do NOT forget the satisfaction to be gained from a round of solid puzzles done well. To that end, Issue Number Two of the new OverSixty Newspaper is packed with tricky Crosswords, Sudokus, Word Finders and more for your entertainment and to keep that grey matter limbered up. So! Without further ado, here are the solutions to <a href="https://over60newspapers.azurewebsites.net/Over_Sixty_Winter_2022_Digital/30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all of the puzzles from Issue 2</a> of the FREE OverSixty Newspaper. Enjoy! Mixed-Up Crossword Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/O60_PuzzleAnswers_Spring2022_crossword.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1276" /> Sudoko Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/O60_PuzzleAnswers_Spring2022_sudoku.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1278" /> Rearrange Answer: We asked you to rearrange these letters to form a single word: glycerine fit SOLUTION: ELECTRIFYING Word Finder Answers: We found all of these words below in this issue's Word Finder. Did you find any more? Let us know via <a href="mailto:newspaper@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">newspaper@oversixty.com.au</a> <ol> <li>ACNE</li> <li>ACTS</li> <li>ANEW</li> <li>BANE</li> <li>BANK</li> <li>CANE</li> <li>CITE</li> <li>ENACT</li> <li>ANACTS</li> <li>FACE</li> <li>FACET</li> <li>FACETS</li> <li>FACT</li> <li>FACTS</li> <li>FANE</li> <li>FITS</li> <li>GETS</li> <li>GUST</li> <li>KEGS</li> <li>KNEW</li> <li>NEGUS</li> <li>NETS</li> <li>PICA</li> <li>PICT</li> <li>PICTS</li> <li>PITS</li> <li>RUGS</li> <li>RUST</li> <li>RUSTIC</li> <li>STEW</li> <li>SUET</li> <li>SURGE</li> <li>URGE</li> <li>VICE</li> <li>WEAN</li> <li>WETS</li> </ol> Word Circles Answer: We asked you to unscramble the letters in each circle to produce two words with similar meanings. SOLUTION: BROCHURE, PAMPHLET Word Ladder Answer: For this puzzle we asked you to turn OIL into GAS by altering a single letter at each of four steps, guided by the clues below. SOLUTION: OIL NIL (Nothing) NIP (Pinch) NAP (Doze) GAP (Aperture) GAS

Mind

Puzzle-cracking Matthew McConaughey fans could win tickets to meet him

If you consider yourself a sleuth or a puzzlemaster you could have a chance to meet Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey when he touches down in Australia for an “off-grid” concert. Fans hoping to see the Dallas Buyers Club actor at next month’s concert will need to identify the exclusive, secret location from a series of cryptic poems that will be shared on social media. Attendees of the concert, which will be headlined by Boy & Bear, will be selected by the Aussie rock band. McConaughey shared the news with fans in a statement, encouraging hopefuls to trust their instincts. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkJqaBSh4-6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkJqaBSh4-6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Wild Turkey Australia (@wildturkeyau)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Trusting yourself, your instincts and spirit are the key to discovery and will always lead you down the right path in life, or a road up north,” the 52-year-old said. “For this reason, Wild Turkey and Boy & Bear are challenging Aussies to let go of the monotony of the last few years and let yourselves discover again. “The Discovery Series Acoustic Session fuels this spirit. However, it's more than discovery; it's for the love of the wilderness, and the enjoyment of bourbon and, most of all, music.” “So, sit back, check into the words and Trust Your Spirit – I'll be waiting patiently to congratulate those who take on the journey.” In a clip shared on social media, McConaughey described the event as a “very special evening out in nature”. Each of the clues will be posted on Wild Turkey’s official Instagram page. McConaughey has been involved with the bourbon brand since 2016, when he came on as its Creative Director and became the “chief storyteller”, according to the Wild Turkey website. “Wild Turkey has the history and qualities of a brand that depicts the dedication of someone to do something their own way – even if that way isn’t always the most popular,” McConaughey says on the site. “I want to help share their unique story.” Image: @officialmcconaughey (Instagram)

Domestic Travel

Puzzles Winter 2022 Answers

You know what they say! A puzzle a day keeps the brain fog away ... Actually they don't say that. But they should, and perhaps now they will because it's totally true. To that end, we've crammed the new OverSixty Newspaper with Crosswords, Sudokus, Word Finders and more for your entertainment and to keep that grey matter limbered up. So! Without further ado, here are the solutions to <a href="https://over60newspapers.azurewebsites.net/Over_Sixty_Winter_2022_Digital/30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all of the puzzles from the Winter 2022 issue</a> of the FREE OverSixty Newspaper. Enjoy! Mixed Up Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/O60_PuzzleAnswers_Winter2022_crossword.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1276" /> Sudoko Answers: <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/O60_PuzzleAnswers_Winter2022_sudoku.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1278" /> Rearrange Answer: We asked you to rearrange these letters to form a single word: tuna hair ratio SOLUTION: AUTHORITARIAN Word Finder Answers: We found all of these words below in this issue's Word Finder. Did you find any more? Let us know via <a href="mailto:newspaper@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">newspaper@oversixty.com.au</a> <ol> <li>ACRES</li> <li>AROSE</li> <li>CARES</li> <li>CAROL</li> <li>CARTING</li> <li>CARTON</li> <li>CATION</li> <li>CATLING</li> <li>CRAGS</li> <li>CRATING</li> <li>CREATING</li> <li>CREATION </li> <li>CURES </li> <li>EATING</li> <li>FLOAT</li> <li>FLOATING </li> <li>FLOGS</li> <li>FLORA</li> <li>FLORAE</li> <li>FLORAS</li> <li>FROGS</li> <li>GATOR</li> <li>GOITRE</li> <li>GORES</li> <li>HURTING</li> <li>HURTLING</li> <li>IGNORE</li> <li>IGNORES </li> <li>INGOT </li> <li>IOTAS </li> <li>LIGATURE</li> <li>LINGO</li> <li>LINGS </li> <li>LITRE</li> <li>LITRES</li> <li>LOACH</li> <li>LONGS </li> <li>LORES</li> <li>LOSER</li> <li>NITRO</li> <li>OLIGARCH</li> <li>RACES</li> <li>RATING</li> <li>RATINGS</li> <li>RATION</li> </ol> Word Circles Answer: We asked you to unscramble the letters in each circle to produce two words that are opposite in meaning to each other. SOLUTION: ASSEMBLE, DISPERSE Word Pyramid Answer: For this puzzle you were given a number of clues. The first answer had two letters, the second three letters, the third four – and so on. Each answer consisted of the same letters as the previous one with the addition of one letter. SOLUTION: Concerning (RE) Rage (IRE) Father (SIRE) Steeple (SPIRE) Desire eagerly (ASPIRE)

Mind

Missing piece of the Cleo Smith puzzle

Image: Getty Detectives continue the search for the sleeping bag Cleo Smith was curled up in when she was allegedly snatched from her tent at the Blowholes campsite. A police spokesperson said it was believed the red and grey sleeping bag was still unaccounted for. Forensic teams continue to examine other items from the site and the Carnarvon home where the four-year-old was found after being missing for 18 days. The sleeping bag was deemed a critical item during the search, with police releasing a image that was on missing person posters all over the country. Motorists travelling on the North West Coastal Highway have even been urged to keep an eye out for the item as police conducted search through roadside bins. Officers went through 50 cubic metres of rubbish recovered from bins from Minilya to Geraldton, but the sleeping bag was not found. The item was also not found at the home of Terence Kelly, who is currently behind bars for the alleged abduction of Cleo Smith from her tent. Further charges could be laid but over the abduction of Cleo, but WA deputy Police commissioner ruled out claims that a “mystery woman” was being investigated. Cleo Smith vanished from her family's tent while on a camping trip at the Quobba Blowholes on October 16th, and was rescued 18 days later. Terence Darrell Kelly has been charged with two offences, including one count of forcibly taking a child aged under 16.

Legal

How to solve a jigsaw puzzle fast

Puzzle-solving tips from the experts Sitting down to begin work on a jigsaw puzzle is an exciting but daunting experience. Alfonso Alvarez-Ossorio, the president of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation, and Tammy McLeod, a competitive puzzle solver, share their tips on solving puzzles quickly, expert strategies for completing jigsaw puzzles of all sizes, the best methods to get started with the hobby of puzzling, and more details about how jigsaw champions work on their puzzles. The challenges of solving a puzzle fast “The difficulty of a jigsaw puzzle – and the time it will take to assemble it – is directly proportional to the number of pieces,” says Alvarez-Ossorio. In addition, there are two factors that account for the difficulty of a jigsaw puzzle, says Alvarez-Ossorio. First, he says is the “morphology of the pieces, which depends on the manufacturer and the die used (the more you distinguish some pieces from others, the easier),” and second is “the contrast of the puzzle image (the greater the contrast, the more diversity of colours and strokes more defined, the easier and faster the assembly).” The right surface Where you do jigsaw puzzles is almost as important as how you do one. “In official competitions, vinyl-plastic is used so that the pieces move quickly across the surface,” says Alvarez-Ossorio. The mats are usually used white, “to reflect the light of space – lighting is a very important factor.” When doing a puzzle at home, you’ll want a dedicated space, such as a folding card table, so you can spread out your pieces and so they won’t get lost. If you don’t have room, puzzle mats are helpful because you can easily roll a puzzle-in-progress up for storage when you need to reclaim your dining room or coffee table. Different strategies for different puzzles In her personal puzzle-solving experience, “a 500 piece jigsaw is small enough to be spread out completely on a table so that all the pieces can be viewed at the same time,” McLeod shares. “This makes it easy to simply pick out pieces to be assembled, without sorting; usually, each piece contains enough details to uniquely identify it.” Larger puzzles are a different story, however. With a puzzle of 2000 pieces or more, “each piece contains a much smaller portion of the full image, so it’s faster to sort into general groups,” she says. Edges first? A popular strategy is to put the edges of the puzzle together first because, with one straight edge, the pieces are easier to identify and put together. “There isn’t a single strategy that will work for 100 per cent of puzzles, but in the majority of cases, it is easiest to start with the edge,” McLeod says. “This does not apply for non-rectangular puzzles and some puzzles where the edge pieces are cut interchangeably, but generally, to solve a puzzle fast, sorting is key.” Cutting corners Because there are only four of them, McLeod doesn’t spend time looking for corner pieces. “You’d have to spend a lot of time sifting through all the pieces just to find them,” she says. “Instead, start by pulling out the edges, then when you have most of them, start assembling them.” She goes to say that you shouldn’t be of the mind that you need to find every single edge piece, as that too will waste time. “The few edge pieces that you miss will naturally emerge after other pieces get placed.” Smart sorting “The larger the puzzle, the more time you should devote to sorting the pieces,” says Alvarez-Ossorio. “Divide the jigsaw puzzle by zones, normally identified by colours, though sometimes it can also be by textures.” For example in a puzzle about nature, “separate an area of trees and another from grass – both can be the same colour but the textures are completely different.” Perfect placement Once you have your pieces sorted, it’s time to start placing them. If your puzzle is of a drawing, painting, or collage that contains lots of details or has words, it makes it easier to place pieces, notes McLeod. On the other hand, “Photographs and landscapes usually have large patches of similar textures which can be a stumbling block for beginners,” she says. Take a break Don’t expect to complete your puzzle in an afternoon. “I have worked on puzzles with over 4000 pieces that take 60+ hours to complete, so I definitely cannot finish them in a single sitting!” McLeod shares. And yes, fresh eyes can help, especially if you’re tired. You may also want to invest in a lighted magnifying glass. Puzzling patience “Working on puzzles helps you develop your hand-eye coordination, your visual acuity, colour and shape recognition, and your patience,” McLeod says It’s also a very meditative activity, she says, “Your mind can wander while your hands and eyes are involved with assembling plus you get a hit of dopamine every time you fit a piece, so it becomes a long session of satisfying feelings.” Written by Jeff Bogle. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/how-to-solve-a-jigsaw-puzzle-fast">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Mind

Your brain approaches tricky tasks in a surprisingly simple way

Have you ever sat down to complete your morning crossword or Sudoku and wondered about what’s happening in your brain? Somewhere in the activity of the billions of neurons in your brain lies the code that lets you remember a key word, or apply the logic required to complete the puzzle. Given the brain’s intricacy, you might assume that these patterns are incredibly complex and unique to each task. But <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0312-0">recent research</a> suggests things are actually more straightforward than that. It turns out that many structures in your brain work together in precise ways to coordinate their activity, shaping their actions to the requirements of whatever it is that you’re trying to achieve. We call these coordinated patterns the “low-dimensional manifold”, which you can think of as analogous to the major roadways that you use to commute to and from work. The majority of the traffic flows along these major highways, which represent an efficient and effective way to get from A to B. We have found evidence that most brain activity follows these types of patterns. In very simple terms, this saves your brain from needing to work everything out from scratch when performing a task. If someone throws you a ball, for instance, the low-dimensional manifold allows your brain to swiftly coordinate the muscle movements needed to catch the ball, rather than your brain needing to learn how to catch a ball afresh each time. In a study <a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(19)30775-5">published today in the journal Neuron</a>, my colleagues and I investigated these patterns further. Specifically, we wanted to find out whether they play a role in shaping brain activity during really challenging cognitive tasks that require lots of concentration. We scanned people’s brains with high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they performed a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_square">Latin squares task</a>, which is similar to a Sudoku puzzle but uses shapes instead of numbers. Anyone who has played Sudoku before their morning coffee knows how much focus and concentration is required to solve it. The idea behind the Latin squares task is to identify the missing shape in a particular location in a grid, given that each shape can only show up once in each row and column. We created three different levels of difficulty, defined by how many different rows and columns needed to be inspected to arrive at the correct answer. Directing traffic Our prediction was that performing the more difficult versions of the task would lead to a reconfiguration of the low-dimensional manifold. To return to the highway analogy, a tricky task might pull some brain activity off the highway and onto the back streets to help get around the congestion. Our results confirmed our predictions. More difficult trials showed different patterns of brain activation to easy ones, as if the brain’s traffic was being rerouted along different roads. The trickier the task, the more the patterns changed. What’s more, we also found a link between these changed brain activation patterns and the increased likelihood of making a mistake on the harder version of the Latin Squares test. In a way, attempting a difficult task is like trying out a new rat run on your morning commute – you might succeed, but in your haste and stress you might also be more likely to take a wrong turn. Overall, these results suggests that our brain activity perhaps isn’t as complicated as we once thought. Most of the time, our brain is directing traffic along pretty well-established routes, and even when it needs to get creative it is still trying to send the traffic to the same ultimate destination. This leaves us with an important question: how does the brain achieve this level of coordination? One possibility is that this function is fulfilled by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/thalamus">thalamus</a>, a structure that lies deep in the brain but is connected to almost the entire rest of the brain. Importantly, the circuitry of the thalamus is such that it can act as a filter for ongoing activity in the cerebral cortex, the brain’s main information processing centre, and therefore could exert the kind of influence we were looking for. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298044/original/file-20191022-28112-nv7utl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298044/original/file-20191022-28112-nv7utl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Positions of the thalamus and the cerebral cortex within the brain. Pikovit/Shutterstock Patterns of activity in the thalamus are hard to decipher in traditional neuroimaging experiments. But fortunately, the <a href="https://cai.centre.uq.edu.au/facilities/human-imaging/7t-magnetom">high-resolution MRI scanner used in our study</a> collected by my colleagues Luca Cocchi and Luke Hearne allowed us to observe them in detail. Sure enough, we saw a clear link between activity in the thalamus and the flow of activity in the low-dimensional manifold. This suggests that when performing particular tasks, the thalamus helps to shape and constrain the activity in the cortex, a bit like a police officer directing busy traffic. So next time you sit down to play Sudoku, spare a thought for your thalamus, and the low-dimensional manifold that it helps to create. Together, they’re shaping the brain activity that will ultimately help you solve the puzzle.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/124891/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-shine-730758">James Shine</a>, Robinson Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-brain-approaches-tricky-tasks-in-a-surprisingly-simple-way-124891">original article</a>.

Mind

10 Sudoku tips that’ll help you win

Sudoku puzzles There’s a lot more to Sudoku than simply writing numbers in a row and column. Sitting down before a fresh Sudoku grid and playing Sudoku requires logic, not guesswork, and a substantial knowledge of Sudoku solving techniques. Once you know these Sudoku tips, you will be able to solve even the most challenging puzzle. What is required to solve a Sudoku puzzle? You can read all the Sudoku tips you want, but you need more than an understanding of Sudoku rules and a Sudoku strategy to be a true puzzle master. “The best Sudoku players know how to cut through the visual clutter of a Sudoku grid and start scanning immediately for the most valuable clues and information that they need,” reports Sudoku.com. Other Sudoku players have the ability to “switch off their minds to the outside world and focus for hours to solve Sudoku puzzles.” What is the technique to solve Sudoku? There are more than a few techniques to solve a Sudoku puzzle, but per Conceptis Puzzles, the easiest way to a Sudoku solution is to, “Scan rows and columns within each triple-box area, eliminating numbers or squares and finding situations where only a single number can fit into a single square.” If you’re looking to learn how to play Sudoku, the scanning technique is a swift and generally efficient method of solving easy Sudoku puzzles from start to finish and can get players far into more difficult puzzles before switching to an advanced Sudoku strategy. Before you get started, rev up your brain by seeing if you can solve these puzzles that less than 60 per cent of people can. What is pencil marking in Sudoku? Sudoku pencil marking is a systematic Sudoku solver strategy in which puzzle doers use a pencil to write small numbers inside the squares, denoting which numbers may fit in. Conceptis Puzzles says that, “After pencil marking the puzzle, the solver must analyse the results, identify special number combinations, and deduce which numbers should be placed where.” Pencil is, of course, easy to erase in a hurry once you find the solution – or realise you made a mistake. Can all Sudoku puzzles be solved without guessing? According to Sudoku Of The Day, “Sudoku is a puzzle involving logic – no arithmetic or guessing is required!” While you can, guess, of course, if your guess is wrong, it will throw off the rest of the puzzle and you’ll need to start over. What is a Sudoku candidate? A single candidate is a very easy Sudoku strategy for solving a puzzle. Sudoku of the Day says this Sudoku strategy involves “Using pencil marks to store what candidates are still possible within each cell.” The site continues on to note that, “By then examining the surrounding column, row, and box, a single candidate means you’ve managed to rule out all other possibilities for a particular cell,” leaving just a single number left that could possibly fit. Want another challenge? What is a hidden pair in Sudoku? A hidden pair in Sudoku is “When a pair of numbers appear in exactly two squares in a row, column, or block, but those two numbers aren’t the only ones in their squares,” according to thonky.com. A hidden triple in Sudoku is similar Thonky.com explains that like a hidden pair, a hidden triple in Sudoku, “Occurs when three cells in a row, column, or block contain the same three numbers or a subset of those three. The three cells also contain other candidates.” What is the swordfish technique in Sudoku? You won’t need a Sudoku strategy involving the swordfish technique when just learning how to play Sudoku – not every puzzle has a swordfish pattern – but as you progress, you may run into this technically challenging puzzle pattern – and it may confound you. “A Swordfish pattern occurs when three rows (or three columns) each contain two or three cells that hold a matching locked candidate,” according to Sudoku Essentials. This candidate must reside in each of the three rows and share the same three columns or vice versa.” What is a jellyfish in Sudoku? A jellyfish is when, “Four columns have a candidate in only four different rows, or vice versa,” per Sudoku Snake. The self-described, most advanced Sudoku application goes on to say that a jellyfish is like an, “X-Wing or Swordfish expanded into four units. The columns or rows that have these candidates are the primary units, and must only contain the candidates in the other four rows or columns called the secondary units. All other candidates in the secondary units can be eliminated.” What is a unique rectangle in Sudoku? Somewhat of a controversial subject in the Sudoku world, a unique rectangle (UR) is a situation in which a puzzle may have two different solutions. Hodoku notes that, “A unique rectangle consists of four cells that occupy exactly two rows, two columns, and two boxes. All four cells have the same two candidates left (in real Sudoku, not all cells have to hold all of the UR candidates).” Written by Jeff Bogle. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/10-sudoku-tips-thatll-help-you-win?pages=2" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Mind

20 rebus puzzles that are almost impossible to solve

Test your smarts with these rebus puzzles Rebus puzzles, also known as word picture puzzles or picture riddles, use images or words to convey a phrase or message, typically a common idiom or expression. To help you solve them, make sure to look at word placement, size, colour and quantity. Take your time and don’t give up. These can be pretty tricky. To help you get your brain on the right track, take a look at the most frequently used idioms in the English language. Rebus puzzle #1 We’ll start off with a simple rebus puzzle. Can you guess this one? Answer: Green with envy. Rebus puzzle #2 Can you solve this puzzle? Hint: Focus on the word here. Answer: Split pea soup. Try these 21 brain games guaranteed to boost your brain power. Rebus puzzle #3 This is one of the rebus puzzles where you need to focus on the placement – and number – of numbers. Answer: For once in my life. Rebus puzzle #4 Tilt your head to solve this rebus puzzle. Answer: What goes up must come down. See how you fare with these 19 trivia questions only geniuses get right. Rebus puzzle #5 How fast can you solve this tricky rebus puzzle? Make sure to take note of the placement of the words. Answer: Overseas travel. Wrack your brain with these mind-bending logic puzzles. Rebus puzzle #6 You might think this rebus puzzle has something to do with wine, but think again. Answer: Win with ease. Rebus puzzle #7 Hint: Think of different types of house layouts. Answer: Split level. Here are 5 more puzzles sure to get you thinking. Rebus puzzle #8 The answer isn’t “try to stand.” If that’s what you thought, keep guessing. Answer: Try to understand. This puzzle was dubbed the hardest ever by a university professor. Can you solve it? Rebus puzzle #9 Clear your brain and think hard about this rebus puzzle. Can you solve it? Answer: Summer (sum R). Rebus puzzle #10 We’ll give you a hint to solve this rebus puzzle. What words start with “meta”? Answer: Metaphor. Rebus puzzle #11 Hmm, what do those numbers mean? Answer: Safety in numbers. Rebus puzzle #12 First, rearrange the letters to make a real word. Answer: Trail mix. Rebus puzzle #13 We’ll throw in one of the easier rebus puzzles to give your brain a rest. (The colour here matters.) Answer: Greenhouse. Rebus puzzle #14 Can you figure out why the word “cover” appears four times and the word “head” only appears once? Answer: Head for cover. Rebus puzzle #15 This one is tricky. What words do you see? Answer: Go up in smoke. Rebus puzzle #16 This rebus puzzle represents an idiom you might use when you’re happy. Answer: Sitting on top of the world. Rebus puzzle #17 Notice the shape of this rebus puzzle to help you solve it. Answer: Street corner. Rebus puzzle #18 Can you decode this one? Answer: In between jobs. Rebus puzzle #19 Rebus puzzles aren’t easy. If you’ve solved every one so far, that’s super impressive. Answer: Up for grabs. Rebus puzzle #20 How many of these rebus puzzles did you get right? Guess this last one and finish strong. Answer: Forgive and forget. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/20-rebus-puzzles-that-are-almost-impossible-to-solve?pages=1">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/see-the-last-photos-ever-taken-of-nelson-mandela">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

Mind

The incredibly "puzzling" thing one boy did for the Queen to cheer her up

While many members of the royal family have begun to return their normal lives, and even attend public engagements again - Queen Elizabeth is continuing to remain in lockdown in Windsor Castle. Due to the royal’s older age, she is at higher risk for COVID-19 and that’s exactly why Essex boy Timothy Madders put his brain to the test and got to making Her Majesty the ultimate boredom buster present. The seven-year-old "wanted to do something to cheer her up," his mother, Jo Madders, told the BBC. And to do that, he configured a happiness-themed word puzzle in his “best handwriting.” He included words like “smile”, “happiness,” “family” and “jolly.” "She's probably wanting to keep herself busy," he explained. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 7-year-old Timothy Madders from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Billericay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Billericay</a> created a happiness themed word search and sent it to Buckingham Palace for the Queen. A few days ago he got a reply! <a href="https://t.co/oJJitT7XP2">pic.twitter.com/oJJitT7XP2</a> — BBC Essex (@BBCEssex) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCEssex/status/1281482836655177728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote> Timothy included a short but heartfelt letter along with the puzzle, writing, "You might be feeling sad or lonely during lockdown, so I thought I could make a word search for you to cheer you up." The gesture was well-received, with Timothy revealing he recieve a letter from one of the British monarch's ladies-in-waiting, expressing her gratitude. “The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your kind letter, and for the puzzle you have created especially for Her Majesty," the letter read. “Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated, and the Queen hopes that you too are keeping safe and well in the current situation. “I am to thank you very much indeed for writing as you did at this time." Timothy said the letter "was very good and it was very important and made me happy that she liked it."

Caring

Why a Will is only one piece of the estate planning puzzle

More than 50% of Australian’s don’t have a Will or estate plan, let alone other important medical and life documentation in place. It may be daunting to consider another person to make a life-changing medical decision, to be guardian of your children or to be your Power of Attorney if you fall ill or become incapacitated. However, the unavoidable fact is, if you don’t think about these serious decisions now, your partner or children might be put in a situation where they are left guessing your wishes, causing extreme stress, chaos and uncertainty. It is normal to forward plan in other aspects of our life, such as finances, insurances or superannuation to ensure we and our families are protected. Don’t skip planning for your life. We believe something as important as estate planning should be easy, so we have developed a unique package called <a href="https://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/mylifedocuments/">MyLife Documents™</a>. This unique offer allows you to prepare five essential estate planning legal documents easily, in one go, for a fixed price and under the consultation of an expert Wills & Estate Planning lawyer. As I assure you in my book, <a href="http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/ebook">The Australian Guide to Wills & Estate Planning</a>, Wills and estate planning doesn’t have to be as daunting, labour intensive or expensive as you may think and the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Making plans now is the best way to ensure that your family and loved ones are looked after if anything should happen to you. Blackburn Lawyers work with you over two consultations to prepare five vital documents: 1. A standard Will A Will is a legal document that enables you to determine how your ‘estate’ is to be distributed after your death. This includes your money, property, shares, investments and possessions. While separate from your estate, you should also make decisions about how your superannuation is dealt with when you make your Will. 2. Enduring Power of Attorney (POA) An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to nominate one or more persons to act on your behalf for legal, financial and personal decisions. This can start when you decide and continues to be effective if you lose the ability to make your own decisions. 3. Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Maker The appointment of a Medical Treatment Decision Maker is different to a POA, as they are tasked specifically with making medical decisions for you if you are ill or injured and unable to make them for yourself. 4. Advance Care Directive In relation to your medical decisions, you are also able to prepare a second document called an Advance Care Directive which allows you to record your wishes regarding treatment and communicate them to your Medical Treatment Decision Maker so that they have an understanding of what is important to you. 5. Statement of Wishes A Statement of Wishes is a separate document to your Will. A Statement of Wishes is not binding but can assist your executors when it comes time to administer your estate. At Maurice Blackburn, we store your Statement of Wishes with your Will so that executors have everything they need to administer your estate. Things that might be included in a Statement of Wishes: <ul> <li>music that you wish to be played at your funeral</li> <li>who your pallbearers will be</li> <li>who will scatter your ashes</li> <li>other preferences around burial or cremation</li> <li>the location of your assets so your executors may easily find them</li> <li>who you would like notified about your death.</li> </ul> These five essential legal and medical documents work hand-in-hand to protect your loved ones in the event you are injured or incapacitated, or if you pass away. Failure to do so can create uncertainty and stress for family and friends, leaving them guessing your wishes. In my experience, the cost of not planning your estate is far greater than the cost of planning it. Don’t put it off any longer, as your family will always be better off with these documents in place. By making one simple phone call today, you can take the pressure off your family and loved ones down the line. Andrew Simpson is the National Head of Wills & Estate Planning at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. Andrew has 20 years’ experience as a lawyer and for the past 18 of these years he has practiced in <a href="https://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/our-people/lawyers/andrew-simpson/">Wills disputes</a> and <a href="https://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/our-people/lawyers/andrew-simpson/">Estate planning</a>, so he understands the many facets of <a href="https://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/our-people/lawyers/andrew-simpson/">Estate law</a>. He is so passionate about this area of law that he wrote a plain English book about it to help people understand the importance of Estate planning. A best-seller, <a href="http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/ebook">The Australian Guide to Wills & Estate Planning</a>, has just been republished and is available in all good bookstores. For all oversixty.com.au readers, we are pleased to offer a <a href="http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/ebook">FREE download</a> of Andrew’s book, valued at $29.95 This is a sponsored post written in partnership with <a href="http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/createmywill">Maurice Blackburn Lawyers</a>.

Legal

How was the crossword puzzle invented?

Can doing crosswords really help you stay happier and healthy for longer? <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fan-actor-and-his-time-paperback-sir-john-gielgud%2Fprod9781557834157.html">Sir John Gielgud</a> believed so. The star of <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fdvd-movies%2Farthur-1981-arthur-2%2Fprod9325336162033.html">Arthur</a>, <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fdvd-movies%2Fchariots-of-fire%2Fprod9321337051796.html">Chariots of Fire</a>, <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-power-of-one-popular-penguins-bryce-courtenay%2Fprod9780143204794.html">The Power of One</a> and <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fdvd-movies%2Fthe-portrait-of-a-lady%2Fprod0044007820520.html">The Portrait of a Lady</a> solved a crossword every day until he died, aged 97, with a completed crossword by his bedside. He used to say, “Completing the crossword is the only exercise I take.” And the Shakespearean actor spent every spare moment on set doing his beloved crosswords. The Queen, who has just celebrated her 90th birthday, also enjoys a good crossword. Actress Betty White, 94, is also passionate about her crosswords. “I do mental exercises. I don't have any trouble memorising lines because of the crossword puzzles I do every day to keep my mind a little limber.” Ever wondered how the crossword was created? Newspaper man Arthur Wynne was originally from the UK and moved to New York in 1905. While he was working at the newspaper The New York World as editor of the ‘fun’ section in 1913, he created the ‘word-cross puzzle’. This diamond shaped word game was derived from the ancient game of acrostics and wordsquares, which was a Victorian past-time. There were 31 simple clues and it was published on Sunday December 21, 1913. Due to its popularity and newly named the ‘crossword’ Wynne’s creation was published in the newspaper for ten years before a pair of Harvard graduates came up with the idea to publish a book of crosswords (as their Auntie Wixie was a fan). A publishing phenomena was born! So, how does doing crosswords help you? Of course, we all know, they are a great (healthy) escape from the demands of everyday life. They also make you think and provide much needed mental exercises, which may keep the brain healthier, for longer. Did you know crosswords were created 103 years ago? Crosswords also improve your vocabulary - new words, new meanings, and new understandings of words. They teach organisational skills. After all, it’s often necessary to work back and forth between the Across and Down clues to solve the puzzle. Your spelling skills also get a workout and you pick up all sorts of <a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/trivia">general knowledge</a>. So you can feel good about the time you spend wrestling with <a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/wordsearch">clues</a> – you’re improving your memory and sharpening your brain. Love crosswords? The <a href="https://lovattspuzzles.com/lovatts-wyza-free-big-crossword-magazine-promotion/">first 500 readers who apply with be sent a free copy of Christine’s BIG Crossword Magazine</a>. Mindfulness and puzzles One of the buzz words in today’s world of mental health is <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/health/how-learning-about-mindfulness-can-help-you-stress-less,-help-your-relationships,-feel-happier-and-healthier.aspx">mindfulness</a>. Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation principles. It is especially helpful for people who worry about the past, or the future. When solving a <a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/crossword">crossword</a>, you may find that your mind is totally focused on the clues and answers, to the extent that you are not particularly aware of anything else. You might say it’s a form of meditation, except that in meditation the aim is to have no thoughts at all, which is not an easy stage to achieve. When solving crosswords you are keeping your mind engaged, which means you are not thinking of the past or the future, so you are giving that part of your brain a rest. This is fine as long as you are not crosswording while driving or minding a toddler! Puzzles can be wonderful ‘companions’ “Our Lovatts puzzlers often write in to tell us that our <a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/crossword">crosswords</a> and puzzles are invaluable companions and our puzzle magazines are well-travelled too. Many of our correspondents also say that their memory and word skills have improved since <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/health/these-6-easy-daily-habits-will-help-protect-your-brain.aspx">taking up puzzle-solving</a> - especially if they don’t settle for easy puzzles but tackle the more challenging ones,” says passionate puzzler, <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/lifestyle/wyza-life/what-is-it-like-creating-puzzles-for-a-living.aspx">Christine Lovatt</a>. “<a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/crossword">Crosswords</a> and other word puzzles use the right side of the brain whereas <a href="http://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/sudoku">Sudoku</a> or other logic puzzles use the left side. So if you can do both, you are giving your brain a total workout,” she adds. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/how-were-crosswords-invented.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Art

Less than 1 per cent of people can solve these puzzles

Consider yourself a puzzle master? Challenge yourself with this mind-bending test. The Puzzled Out quiz was tested on 2,000 people to see how well they can spot the missing pattern in pictures while racing against time. Players have to tackle 10 questions, each with a 10-second timer. Less than one per cent got all the answers correct. Could you be one of them? <div class="test-app" style="width: 100%; height: 600px; margin: 0 auto; background: #fff; position: relative;"><iframe data-url="https://www.buzzbingo.com/bingo-games/puzzled-out/#embed" src="https://www.buzzbingo.com/bingo-games/puzzled-out/#embed" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 1px solid #ccc;"></iframe></div> <div class="meframe"></div> <div><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.buzzbingo.com/bingo-games/puzzled-out/" target="_blank">Puzzled Out</a> by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.buzzbingo.com" target="_blank">Buzz Bingo</a></div> According to the quiz creator <a href="https://www.buzzbingo.com/bingo-games/puzzled-out/">Buzz Bingo</a>, some demographics performed better in finding the missing puzzle pieces. People aged 18 to 25 picked the correct answer in 52.6 per cent of the pictures compared to people aged over 65 with 34.9 per cent. Those who regularly partake in brain teasers also scored more highly. Those who often do exercises such as sudoku and crosswords picking 45.1 per cent of the pictures correctly compared to non-partakers at 38.5 per cent.

Mind

The 4 best iPhone puzzle games

Looking for a way to test yourself? Here are four puzzle games you can download on your Iphone. 1. 1010 1010 challenges players to position shapes in a 10x10 grid. If you manage to place shapes to form a complete line, the line disappears and creates more space which you use to make more lines. Downside of the fun: It’s a less frantic-typed Tetris and although the app is free, it comes with ads. 2. Pair Solitaire The game involves matching pairs that are separated by just one card. The goal is to clear as many cards from a standard deck of 52 as possible. The app is free and can be a fun strategy-based game. 3. Prune The puzzling game may be the challenge you’ve been waiting for. The challenge comes by helping tree branches find sunlight to grow flowers. You must nip off new branches growing in the wrong direction and get your tree through certain obstacles. 4. Threes! It’s a fun math game that challenges players by asking them to slide all numbers on a board together in one of four directions. Squishing two matching numbers together creates the sum of the numbers.

Art

The best puzzles to test your mind – and your patience

Puzzles are great for challenging your brain while also allowing you to unwind and de-stress at the same time – as long as the last piece is not missing, of course! Is there anything better to do in your spare time than to be completely immersed in a brain-stimulating boardgame? Research has proven boardgames allow people to form better memories, as well as to improve your cognitive skills. So, why wouldn’t you want to partake in the fun activity? Here are a few of the top-rated, best-selling and most-reviewed puzzles available. Swipe through the gallery above to see what people love most about their favourite puzzles. Would you purchase any of these puzzles? Let us know in the comments below.

Art

How puzzles enchant your mind

In today’s digital age, we log on more than log off. We are constantly sliding from one screen to another with our minds often switching to autopilot. Our brains are no longer being challenged because information is served straight to us, often so quickly we hardly have time to even process it. So it's probably a good time to take a step back and engage in some mindful activities that will not only stimulate your brain but help boost memory retention. The benefits of solving puzzles Puzzling is hardly a newfound pastime. In fact, crossword puzzles originated in England in the 19th century. There’s a reason it continues to be a beloved hobby for people of all ages. Puzzling is incredibly fun – almost downright addictive for the daily indulgers. It’s also a great practice to share with others, forming a creative and competitive bond between friends. Most importantly, puzzling has been proven to boost your health. In fact, a large-scale and robust online trial, as reported by Science Daily, has found that the more regularly people do word puzzles such as crosswords<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/puzzles.html#/games/crossword" target="_blank"></a>, the better their brain function in later life. The puzzle instinct The simple world of black and white puzzles – from crosswords and wheel words, to sudoku and brainteasers – were once confined to the pages of magazines and newspapers but now devotees are able to head online to interactive websites like youplay.com to fulfil their puzzling cravings. However, the classic art of puzzling by hand is making a comeback as people start to prefer holding physical paper in their hands instead of playing on a computer screen. This all comes down to personal preference. Puzzles can enchant your mind in a few ways, which include: 1. Using both side of your brain. When you puzzle, you use both the left and right side of your brain. Although the concepts seem simple, there is an underlying mental component to puzzles. 2. Challenge your brain to a workout. There are a variety of puzzles available that boost verbal skills, improve memory and brain function, encourage creative and strategic thinking, develop problem-solving skills as well as distracting and keeping your mind busy. The best thing about puzzles is that they offer a sense of achievement upon completion. 3. Boost your self evaluation skills. It can be initially hard to see why puzzles would increase your self evaluation skills. However, trying to figure out what pieces fit where and why that one doesn't go there is a good exercise in checking and re-evaluating your choices. This can be carried into your every day decision making processes. With the classic art of puzzling getting such a fresh makeover and mindful activities being embraced as essential, more people are turning to puzzling to stimulate, educate and reward themselves in their daily practices. Regardless of whether they are seasoned crossword connoisseurs or simply keen to dip their toes into the puzzling realm, smart never goes out of style. What puzzles do you enjoy doing? Written by Editor. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/ways-to-enchant-your-mind.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

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How was the crossword puzzle invented?

Less than 1 per cent of people can solve these puzzles

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The best puzzles to test your mind – and your patience

How puzzles enchant your mind

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