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National Brain Game Challenge

And the Winners Are: Grand Prize— Jeffrey Harris, Norwalk, CT Submitted 3:43 p.m. ET September 25, 2011 Second Place— Michael Sylvia, Seattle, WA Submitted 3:53 p.m. ET September 25, 2011 Third Place— Andrew Feist, Newport News, VA Submitted 4:05 p.m. ET September 25, 2011 All other contestants whose placement earned an award will be notified via e-mail. For solutions and details about the puzzle, please read the note below from our puzzle constructor, Merl Reagle.

A note from AFA:
Thanks to everyone who did crosswords for our cause! From the comments we’ve heard, the National Brain Game Challenge was “a blast,” “fun,” “a crazy journey,” “an exciting way to spend an afternoon”—and more! We’re delighted that the puzzles proved to be challenging and exciting. We had no doubt that they would be with puzzle king Merl Reagle as the mastermind behind the Challenge. Our sincere thanks to Merl and his wife, Marie Haley, for their genius and commitment to caregivers. Again, thanks to all who participated in the National Brain Game Challenge and please be in touch if we can be of assistance to you or someone you know who is facing Alzheimer’s disease.

A note from Merl Reagle about the solution:
At 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, September 25, registered players were given access to a series of four crossword puzzles with distinctive shapes and internal designs. The page-long set of instructions stated that the four puzzles had four “Key Answers” hidden somewhere within them and that all four had something in common called the “Secret Link.” The contest required players to submit just those five answers, not the completed puzzles, using an e -mail address that itself was hidden among the puzzles.

In each puzzle the Key Answer was buried three levels deep -- a pair of “Hidden Hints” led to a “Big Clue” which in turn led to the Key Answer. About half of each puzzle’s clues had to be changed in some way to make their clues agree with their answers. For example, in the “Rhyming” crossword (Puzzle 2), the clue “Shame on Wall Street” had to be changed to “Name on Wall Street” to correctly define DOW. There were also four bonus hints in the form of riddles, one on each page puzzle page.

The Secret Link turned out to be Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” and the four Key Answers corresponded to the four parts of the book -- Randy Newman’s “Short People” indicated the Lilliputians; San Francisco’s “Giants” indicated the Brobdingnagians; “Scientists” indicated the impractical inhabitants of a floating island (Part 3 is perhaps the least known section of the novel); and “Houyhnhnms” (pronounced “winnums”) were the intelligent horses of Part 4 whose brutish human neighbors were called “Yahoos” (a term we still use today). The secret e -mail address involved the word “Gulliver.”

The answers to the crosswords are available here. A detailed explanation of the puzzles, including the logic behind the shapes and design of the diagrams, plus all of the hidden clues (and there are many), is available here or at sundaycrosswords.com.

 

Background:

Take the challenge! The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) presents the inaugural National Brain Game Challenge, an exciting online game of skill created by renowned puzzle master Merl Reagle. Designed for novices, puzzle buffs and anyone else up for a challenge, the contest sends the message—in a fun way—that it’s never too early or too late to embrace brain health. Plus, your involvement supports our cause!

What Is the National Brain Game Challenge?
The National Brain Game Challenge is an online game of skill created by renowned puzzle master Merl Reagle. The contest is designed to be fun, exciting and challenging for everyone from puzzle novices to enthusiasts. Plus, it spreads the message about the importance of brain health. This exciting event is built around the concept that flexing and stretching your brain, just like flexing and stretching other parts of your body, is critical for successful aging. The National Brain Game Challenge is part of the ongoing efforts by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to educate the public about successful aging and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.

How Will My Participation Support the Cause?
Participation in the National Brain Game Challenge supports the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), a leading national nonprofit organization focused on providing optimal care to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and their families. AFA’s programs and services and those offered by its 1,600-plus member organizations nationwide support the practical, emotional, financial and social needs of families affected by this brain disorder. Currently, as many as 5.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is expected to triple by mid-century. With advanced age the greatest known risk factor for the disease, the nation’s aging population is causing what has been deemed a “silver tsunami.” As a result of the growing numbers of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, demand for support services increases daily. AFA is “caring for the nation … one person at a time.”

What Are the Prizes?
The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000. The second-place winner will receive $1,000. The third-place winner will receive $500. Thereafter, prizes of $100 (in cash or gift certificates—from book stores, etc.) will be awarded to the 10th, 25th, 50th, 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th, 1,000th, 2,000th, 3,000th, 4,000th and 5,000th winners.

How Do You Register for the National Brain Game Challenge?
Participation in the National Brain Game Challenge requires a $25 entry fee. Each player will complete an online registration form and pay the entry fee online with a credit card.

Who Is Eligible to Enter the Contest and Compete for a Prize?
The contest is open to individuals aged 18 and older, except any finalist or winner in the A and B Division playoffs of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and/or any person who ever constructed a playoff puzzle for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, as well as all Alzheimer’s Foundation of America board members, employees and their immediate families.

Can Ineligible Players Participate?
Yes. We welcome the participation of interested individuals who are deemed ineligible (see above) or simply do not want to compete for prizes, but want to have fun and support our cause. These players may register and participate in the National Brain Game Challenge, but they will not be competing for prizes, nor will they be awarded any prizes or be named winners, runners-up, etc. Non-prize competitors will be considered a separate pool of applicants. The same rules of the game—individualized pass code, availability of puzzle download, solution submission—apply to the ineligible players.

How Will the Puzzles Be Made Available?
Upon registration, each player will be assigned an individualized pass code, which will enable him or her to access a players- only site from August 7 through September 27. The  players-only site will include information and reminders for participants only. At 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 25, all of the contest puzzles, in the form of five downloadable PDF pages, will become available on registered players’ page so that all players can download them at the same time. Then, the race is on.

Is there any special technology I will need for this contest?
The instructions and puzzles will be provided as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files. This is a free program available from the Adobe Web site. Follow the download directions on the Adobe Web site to get your copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download Adobe.

You will also need to print out the puzzles. Check that your printer works beforehand. You might want to print out the sample puzzle (see below) to test your printer.

What Are the Rules of the Game?
Each puzzle contains a unique and hidden Key Answer that can be expressed in fewer than four words. There is also a Secret Link that binds all of the Key Answers together. Each player must submit the Key Answers plus the Secret Link --  not the completed puzzles  -- by e-mail, along with his or her assigned pass code. The e-mail address that players must use will be revealed in one of the puzzles. Only e-mail submissions will be accepted and each registered player must submit his or her solution only once; multiple e-mails are not allowed. An automated e-mail reply will let each player know that we received his or her entry.

Do You Have to Be a Crossword Expert to Participate?
Our puzzle master has created this contest with fun and challenge in mind. It’s designed for everyone—from puzzle novices to puzzle buffs, and anyone in between.

To give you a sense of the National Brain Game Challenge, Merl Reagle has created a sample puzzle for you to try. For a sample puzzle, click here.

How Will AFA Determine the Winners?
AFA will determine the Grand Prize winner and all other winners based on accuracy and speed of submissions from eligible players only. For example, the first e-mail that AFA receives from an eligible player that is judged to be completely correct is the Grand Prize winner of the contest; the second such e-mail received from an eligible player is the second-place winner; and so forth. Solutions will be accepted until 3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 48 hours after the contest began. Winners will be announced on AFA's Web site  at 12 noon ET, Wednesday, September 28, 2011.  

Who is Merl Reagle?
Merl Reagle is one of the nation’s most renowned puzzle masters; Games magazine’s World of Puzzles has called him the “best Sunday crossword puzzle creator in America.” His popular, often pun-filled Sunday crossword is syndicated in 50 newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and other major newspapers. Reagle constructed his first crossword at age six and sold his first puzzle to The New York Times at 16. Since then he has authored 15 Sunday crossword anthologies. In 2006 he was featured prominently in the hit documentary “Wordplay” and in 2008 he played a cartoon version of himself on “The Simpsons.” For the National Brain Game Challenge he has crafted a series of challenging, ingenious puzzles that have something in common—a Secret Link—that players must discover. Reagle and his wife, Marie Haley, of Tampa, FL have a personal interest in the cause, having been caregivers for “1,000 days” for Marie’s mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease.

Why Are Puzzles and Mental Activities Important for Brain Health?
Research suggests that regular mental workouts may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease—an incurable brain disorder that is increasing in incidence nationwide and primarily affects the older population. Flexing and stretching your brain, just like flexing and stretching other parts of your body, is critical for a successful aging workout—so much so that experts suggest that people of all ages exercise both their brains and bodies on a daily basis. Research suggests that regular mental activities might help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders by:

• enhancing cognitive reserve
• stimulating growth of new brain cells, and
• maintaining or strengthening connections between brain cells.

How Can I Help Promote the National Brain Game Challenge?
If you love crosswords, you probably know others who do as well. Let your friends, family members, colleagues, etc. know about the National Brain Game Challenge and encourage them to register. Also, please let your community know about this event by asking libraries, senior centers, Ys, community club houses, etc. to post a National Brain Game Challenge flyer. Click here to download a National Brain Game Challenge promotional flyer.

What Else Can I Do to Support Brain Health?

Local Brain Game Challenge:
In a pilot program initiated by AFA, several AFA member organizations in various parts of the country will host an on-site Brain Game Challenge in their communities this fall. These local fundraising and educational events complement the National Brain Game Challenge. Designed to appeal to people of all ages, abilities and interests, the local Brain Game Challenge is comprised of a series of games such as visual puzzles, math challenges and memory games. Anybody who would like to support a local AFA member organization, enjoys doing puzzles and playing other types of games, is committed to brain health or, simply, is up for a challenge is welcome to join the fun. Participating sites retain 90 percent of all funds raised during this event—so funds are staying in your own community! Click here to find a local organization participating in the local Brain Game Challenge pilot program.

National Memory Screening Day:
AFA will hold National Memory Screening Day on November 15, 2011, with local sites nationwide offering free, confidential memory screenings. This annual initiative promotes the benefits of early detection of memory problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, and educates the public about memory problems and successful aging. Anyone who has memory concerns or who wants to check their memory now and for future comparison can take a face-to-face screening administered by a qualified healthcare professional. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores are encouraged to follow up with their physician or other qualified healthcare professional. Click here for more information and to find a screening site.

www.alzprevention.org:
Learn about successful aging on www.alzprevention.org, AFA’s Web site dedicated to brain health. Here you can read about the latest research regarding the impact of lifestyle choices on brain health and tips regarding diet, exercise, stress reduction and other lifestyle modifications that may help reduce risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as find resources and checklists that can help you on your journey toward successful aging. Click here to learn more.

Click here to ask a question about the National Brain Game Challenge.