Why your short-term memory falters, and how to make it better. Credit...Joyce Lee for The New York Times Supported by By Caroline Hopkins Q: Some thoughts vanish from my brain as soon as I think ...

It’s also been implicated in short-term memory. We additionally know that long-term poor sleep quality is associated with a higher risk for memory-deficit conditions like Alzheimer’s dementia.

Since working memory and attention are critical in winning these games, long-term playing seems to provide the kind of mental exercise that can boost these skills over time.

In the short term, exercise increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine which help a range of cognitive functions.