Playing cards or board games may protect against dementia, researchers find – The Sun
PLAYING cards or board games may protect against dementia.
Researchers found pensioners who played bridge, chess and Monopoly were more likely to stay mentally sharp.
They analysed data on 1,091 people who sat tests on memory, problem solving and thinking speed.
The tests started when they were 70 and then were repeated every three years until they were 79.
Those who played “non-digital” games, such as bingo, dominoes or crosswords suffered less decline in brain power.
This was particularly the case for memory and thinking speed, the University of Edinburgh study found.
The average IQ score of pensioners who played games several times a week was one to three points higher.
Results took into account other potentially influential factors, such as wealth, education and exercise.
Professor Ian Deary said: “We are narrowing down the sorts of activities that might help to keep people sharp in older age.
“It’d be good to find out if some of these games are more potent than others.”
Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams said: “Even though some people’s thinking skills can decline as they get older, this research is further evidence it doesn’t have to be inevitable.
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