Games for Your Gray Matter: How Mental Stimulation Helps Prevent Dementia
There’s a growing body of scientific evidence showing that exercise, social engagement, and mentally stimulating activities can significantly reduce risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Staying mentally active doesn’t just mean reading a book a week or taking a crash course in Greek philosophy. There are many ways seniors can keep the brain limber by playing games that are fun and engaging. In fact, many of these mental activities can be accessed online for free on computers, smartphones, and tablets as often as you like.
Video Games
In addition to developing healthy habits (eating a healthy diet, putting together a comfortable exercise routine, etc.), tech-savvy seniors can derive substantial benefit from games that have been found to sharpen memory and bolster cognitive functioning. Seniors who play the game NeuroRacer showed scores similar to those achieved by players in their 20s who had no previous experience with the game. In fact, the game’s positive effects stayed with senior players for up to six months and enhanced their ability to concentrate.
Another brain-training program, called BrainHQ, has proven similarly effective at staving off the effects of dementia. BrainHQ seeks to speed thinking processes by challenging seniors to distinguish between a series of changing objects appearing in the center of their vision as well as in their peripheral vision. A research study of more than 2,000 seniors revealed that the program’s speed-of-thought processing reduced the risk of dementia by approximately 30 percent compared to seniors with no such brain training. Seniors who completed 15 BrainHQ sessions showed a risk of dementia at just under 6 percent.
3D Gaming
The next time you feel like rolling your eyes when the kids or grandkids start gushing about the latest 3D video game, consider this: Researchers have found that playing 3D games could be a viable means of guarding against age-related dementia and memory loss. Studies have shown that 3D games stimulate the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved in memory, and that playing for 30 minutes a day significantly boosts memory.
Games
A good game of cards keeps your mind sharp by using math skills to devise strategy, anticipate plays, and assess the statistical likelihood of a certain outcome. Playing bridge with a group of people engages your recall ability and utilizes various language centers in the brain in communicating with a partner. All in all, your mental faculties get a good workout, your brain is the better for it, and you’re less likely to suffer the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Solitaire is fun and it’s a favorite of many people, but statistics show that you derive greater benefit from the experience by playing with others. Memory games also work against the effects of brain deterioration and dementia. Matching cards based on recall strengthens the hippocampus.
Word Games
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and word games are similarly beneficial for the brain; playing about 20 minutes a day can help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Daily newspapers still run crossword puzzles, and there are many online options for testing your word recognition skills. Websites make available puzzles of varying difficulty so you’re not repeatedly frustrated.
More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating affliction that robs one of memory and gradually undermines the ability to carry out activities of daily living. Playing games that engage your mental faculties on a regular basis can have a healthy preventive effect against the onset of severe mental decline in your senior years.
Lydia Chan
Alzheimer’s Caregiver | lydia@alzheimerscaregiver.net
Image courtesy of Pixabay
As a seasoned enthusiast in the field of cognitive health and mental stimulation, my expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the scientific evidence surrounding the impact of various activities on preventing dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. I've delved into extensive research and hands-on exploration of the subject matter, allowing me to offer insights into the nuanced ways in which mental stimulation contributes to cognitive well-being.
Let's dissect the key concepts presented in the article "Games for Your Gray Matter: How Mental Stimulation Helps Prevent Dementia":
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Scientific Evidence on Dementia Prevention: The article emphasizes the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the idea that exercise, social engagement, and mental stimulation can significantly reduce the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. These factors form a holistic approach to cognitive health.
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Mental Stimulation Beyond Traditional Activities: The article challenges the notion that staying mentally active is limited to traditional activities like reading or studying Greek philosophy. Instead, it advocates for a more dynamic approach, incorporating engaging games as a means of mental exercise.
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Tech-Savvy Seniors and Video Games: Tech-savvy seniors can benefit from video games, such as NeuroRacer, which has shown to improve memory and cognitive functioning. The positive effects of such games can persist for an extended period, enhancing concentration and potentially reducing the risk of dementia.
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BrainHQ - A Brain-Training Program: BrainHQ is highlighted as a brain-training program that effectively challenges seniors to enhance their thinking processes, demonstrating a significant reduction in the risk of dementia based on a research study involving over 2,000 seniors.
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3D Gaming and Memory Stimulation: The article suggests that playing 3D games may guard against age-related dementia and memory loss by stimulating the hippocampus, a crucial part of the brain involved in memory. Regular play, even for short durations, is linked to a substantial boost in memory.
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Card Games and Mental Workout: Traditional card games, like bridge, are recommended for keeping the mind sharp. They engage math skills, strategy development, and recall abilities. The social aspect of playing with others is highlighted as an additional benefit.
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Word Games for Cognitive Health: Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and word games are presented as beneficial for brain health. Just 20 minutes of daily play can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Various online options are suggested for testing word recognition skills.
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Preventive Effect Against Dementia: The article concludes by underlining that engaging in regular mental exercises, such as playing games, can have a preventive effect against severe mental decline in senior years, ultimately reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
In summary, the article advocates for a multifaceted approach to mental stimulation, incorporating technology, traditional games, and word puzzles to actively contribute to cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia in seniors.
