I recently attended the third annual Brain Health Summit in Washington, D.C., where clinicians, researchers, and policymakers came together to discuss brain health. This initiative by the American Academy of Neurology is part of its mission to promote “Brain Health for All.”

In our quest for optimal brain health, we've learned that certain habits are helpful. Eating healthy foods, exercising, getting restorative sleep, and engaging in emotionally rewarding activities and social interactions are certainly key. (The two letter writers who chronicled their activities on World Brain Day are great examples of this.) And the evidence continues to accumulate. For example, a study in JAMA Network Open in 2023 found that enrichment activities—such as writing letters, journaling, using a computer, playing games, and doing crossword puzzles—were associated with an 11 percent lower risk of dementia.

Probably no one knows crossword puzzles better than Will Shortz, our cover subject, who has been the crossword editor for the New York Times for more than 30 years. He also founded the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and the World Puzzle Championship and has published dozens of crossword, sudoku, and other puzzle books. Through his work, he has contributed to the brain health of many Americans. In this issue, he describes the two strokes he had in February and how physical therapy, including table tennis, has been key to his recovery. Less than two weeks after his strokes, he was back to playing Ping-Pong and writing crossword puzzles.

With Alzheimer's Awareness Month in November, we chose dementia as our theme for this issue. Many of the people featured are demonstrating that life with cognitive loss can continue to be meaningful and filled with joy. Rebecca Chopp, a former university president, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 58. She has since improved her diet, adopted a mini husky puppy, discovered a passion for painting, joined three national boards for Alzheimer's foundations—and written a book.

The National Council of Dementia Minds, which was founded by people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, is an organization devoted to decreasing stigma and debunking myths about living with the disease. The council's mission is to share strategies for living well and to lobby for better care, treatment, and diagnosis. For many members, joining the group has provided a new sense of purpose or motivated them to launch new careers.

At the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco, another dementia-related event occurred. Actor Jake Broder, whose credits include the TV series Silicon Valley and The Morning Show, hosted a dinner party at a senior center for people with dementia to see how food helps them connect with others and recall long-ago memories. Another dinner took place in late September at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, and two more are scheduled for later this year. As Broder explains in our feature, he plans to gather data to see if attendees receive some measurable cognitive, physical, or emotional benefit.

Every person with dementia experiences it differently, and for some it can be very challenging. And caring for someone with the disease can be taxing. In our Caregiving story, you'll find advice from caregivers about how they provide the best care while also guarding their own physical and mental health. I think you will also enjoy our Speak Up essay about how a grandmother with Alzheimer's disease continues to teach her granddaughter important life lessons.

On the research front, we look at the new weight loss drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which may help lower the risk of developing certain neurologic disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. We'll follow this research as it evolves.

Please write to us at BrainandLife@wolterskluwer.com to share any stories you have of living with dementia or caring for someone with the disorder.