Why can't I do a crossword anymore?

[FrankAbagnale]

Every morning before work I walk round the corner to buy a paper and sit in the coffee shop next door for an hour to browse the news and do the crossword.

It's the i newspaper, so to a novice it's challenging enough without being unachievable.

Normally I'll complete about 75%+ of the clues, with about 25%+ being in the first few seconds. Rattle off a few answers and build from there.

Over the last month or so, I've got suddenly worse. Of the 26 clues this morning I've so far got 3 and this hasn't been uncommon over the last few weeks.

Should I be concerned that my mental capacity has fallen off a cliff all of a sudden?

I don't feel any different in day to day life, or feel that I am struggling to complete other tasks in general. But then, would I realise I wasn't?

[Kermit power]

Have you considered emailing the paper to find out if they've recently changed the person who sets the crossword?

[Douglas Quaid]

He probably would’ve thought of that a few weeks ago..

[ReaderScars]

Have you changed your diet? You might be lacking the right brain-food.

[cat with a hat]

Kermit power said:

Have you considered emailing the paper to find out if they've recently changed the person who sets the crossword?

This would be interesting to understand

[motco]

In my limited experience of The i, the cryptic and the five x five crosswords are quite tricky sometimes. The non-cryptic I never bothered with. Since the price went up I stopped buying it though - I stopped buying the Independent for the same reason: it moved so far left that I didn't feel I wanted to pay to be irritated.

[paulmakin]

cryptic crosswords are very "complier sensitive". lifelong Times fan and got really quite quick with high completions - when they got new compilers it was like starting all over again.

over time our thinking aligns with theirs and we also learn the "devices" that they use. for eg, at one time any 14 letter answer whose clue included any combination of "bishop" or "right reverend", "prague" or "windows/glazing" or a "throne" etc was automatically "defenestration" another popular answer for one Times compiler was "Lehar" so any clue requiring an obscure composer with 5 letters was easily recognisable.

get a couple of familiar constructs like those and a couple of anagrams and you're off to a good start.


Paul

[Lynx516]

Its likely absolutely nothing medically wrong and they have changed the compiler. My advice is ignore it though if you are over 65 that would change to see your GP if it doesn't improve, have had a previous stroke, MI or TIA, or you find other things you can't do.

[limpsfield]

Douglas Quaid said:

He probably would’ve thought of that a few weeks ago..

Under appreciated. It made me laugh.