Supporting Research

The Memory Care Puzzle is a form of environmental enrichment, supported by decades of research. A recent study found that environmental enrichment leads to growth in the brain’s cortical volume and weight, increasing the volume of the hippocampus, which is where our memories are stored. With the Memory Care Puzzle, puzzle solvers connect jigsaw puzzle pieces, visually engage with high-quality pictures imprinted on the pieces, build facial and name recognition skills, and work with a team of loved ones to complete the puzzle—all while building and interacting with stored memories.

In 2005, a study from The Journal of Neuroscience found that environmental enrichment significantly improved the cognitive performances of animals with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2018, researchers identified environmental enrichment as a neuroprotective strategy linked to memory protection. A 2022 study concluded that environmental enrichment not only leads to stronger cognitive functioning but is linked to decreasing depression and anxiety—critical side effects of degenerative memory diseases. As MIT researchers emphasize the importance of developing cognitive resilience through environmental stimulation, the Memory Care Puzzle emerges out of a research climate that views degenerative memory loss as manageable with a targeted environment. The first step to building cognitive resilience is realizing that the environment you create can keep a memory alive.