Games people play. It’s not just a song title; it’s a way to keep your brain healthy.
Playing games can positively impact brain health by stimulating cognitive functions, improving attention, and potentially delaying cognitive decline.
Grab a deck of cards or dust off the old board games on the top shelf of your closet. Maybe turn on the Wii or Nintendo Switch or borrow your kids’ Xbox or PlayStation and get gaming.
Have fun and play a game. Here's a more detailed look at how games can benefit brain health:
Video gaming can increase gray matter in your brain. Gray matter - the outermost layer of your brain — is responsible for controlling your movement, retaining your memories and regulating your emotions. Essentially, the more you learn, the more your brain can grow and adapt.
Playing board games and card games can stimulate brain areas involved in memory, complex thought, and cognitive skills, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Games can also enhance social interaction, boost mood, and encourage learning and problem-solving.
How Games Help the Brain:
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Memory and Cognitive Skills:
Board and card games often require players to remember rules, strategies, and details, which can help improve memory and enhance cognitive skills like decision-making, problem-solving, and logical analysis.
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Strategic Thinking:
Games like chess, Scrabble, and card games involve strategic thinking, forward planning, and pattern recognition, which are all beneficial for brain function.
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Reduced Risk of Cognitive Decline:
Regular engagement in mentally stimulating activities like board games has been shown to lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
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Improved Attention and Focus:
Many board games require players to concentrate and focus for a long period of time, which can help improve attention and focus skills.
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Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking:
Games often present challenges that require players to think critically and find solutions, which helps to improve problem-solving skills.
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Enhanced Executive Functions:
Board games, card games and video games can improve executive functions like decision-making, patience, and critical thinking.
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Neural Reorganization:
Playing traditional board games has been shown to be related to neural reorganization of brain areas associated with attentional control, working memory, and problem-solving.
Supporting a healthy brain is something that you can do anywhere while having fun doing it. You don’t have to go outside to play. Although going outside is a topic for another blog, please do get out and enjoy life away from the video screen or card table.
Have fun, play a game and keep your brain healthy. Remember, as with anything too good, moderation is the key. Successful healthy brain habits are best enjoyed responsibly.