A study published in Psychology and Aging found that older adults who participated in a 16-week cognitive training program that included crossword puzzles and Sudoku became more open to new experiences.  The training consisted of a classroom-based inductive reasoning course and completion of puzzle sets at home. 

Older adults frequently experience changes in personality, including a decrease in willingness to seek out new experiences.  Researchers who conducted the study are proposing that activities aimed at improving cognitive functioning will change the personality trait of openness.

Read more about this interesting study on the Medpage Today website.