Reducing the Risk of Dementia: The Benefits of Chess and Crossword Puzzles

2023-07-18 07:03:38

Playing chess or doing crossword puzzles reduces the risk of dementia © Adobe stock

According to a recent Australian study, crosswords or chess games are preferred to maintain good cognitive abilities and reduce the risk of dementia.

What activities reduce the risk of dementia?

Australian researchers observed the daily activities of 10,318 Australian men and women aged 70 and over as part of a research project. The researchers regularly tested the cognitive abilities of these volunteers. They classified the activities that reduce the risk of dementia the most. The results of their study are published in JAMA Network.

The list of these activities good for the brain

According to the Australian scientific team, two types of activity are excellent for the brain:

So-called literacy tasks: computer lessons, writing of letters and newspapers,
The so-called mental acuity tasks: games chess, crossword, card games.

Seniors who regularly practiced one of these tasks had between 9 to 11% less risk to develop dementia.

Social relationships: good for mental health

Until now, studies on the risk of dementia have highlighted the quality of social relations. Australians do not deny the importance of these social relationships for his mental health. “Active manipulation of previously stored knowledge may play a greater role in reducing dementia risk than more passive recreational activities. Keep the mind active and challenged can be particularly important”, explains Professor Joanne Ryan who led the study.

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