QuickCheck: Does playing chess prevent dementia?

Chess is a thinking person's game, but does it exercise your mind enough to prevent dementia in old age?

GETTING older can throw many for a loop with all the biological and psychological changes that pop up as you age. However one of the terrifying aspects of reaching your twilight years is the risk of developing dementia. One strategy some seniors have followed to stave off dementia is to play chess as they believe the game helps to keep their mind active and clear.

So, does playing chess prevent dementia?

Verdict:

UNCERTAIN (but it helps)

A comprehensive study conducted in 2019 found that the evidence was scarce to "infer a direct causal relationship" between playing chess and lowering your chances of developing dementia.

However, it did say that the evidence was strong enough for chess to be considered a "protective factor against dementia."

A protective factor is defined by the US National Library of Medicine as, "An aspect of personal behaviour or lifestyle, environmental exposure, or inborn or inherited characteristic, which, on the basis of epidemiologic evidence, is known to be associated with prevention or mitigation of a health-related condition considered important to prevent."

So while the study could not say that chess was better at staving off dementia as say checkers or backgammon, or even if it was a guaranteed method of prevention, it did say that playing the game could help you reduce your chances of developing the condition.

According to UK-based Alzheimer's Society, staying mentally and socially active could help delay, or even prevent, dementia from developing.

Engaging in mental and social activities helps to build up your brain's ability to cope with disease, stress and even improve your mood, which in turn should fortify it against dementia.

Chess ticks both boxes as it is a complex game that is mentally challenging and most games take place in social meets.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6617066/

2. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/how-reduce-your-risk-alzheimers-and-other-dementias