Alzheimer’s Foundation of America - Alzheimer’s Disease and Caregiving Support. Frequent Brain Stimulation in Old Age Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Newswise — How often old people read a newspaper, play chess, or engage in other mentally stimulating activities is related to risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published June 27, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
For the study, more than 700 people in Chicago, IL, with an average age of 80 underwent yearly cognitive testing for up to five years. Participants were part of the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a longitudinal study of more than 1,200 older people. Of the participants, 90 developed Alzheimer's disease. Researchers also performed a brain autopsy on the 102 participants who died. Benefits of Chess. Why the Game of Chess Can Tremendously Benefit Children. Chess is a brilliant game of strategy.
Anyone who has learned to play chess understands the "thinking" process behind this remarkable display of competition. During the game, before making any move, a player must think it through until the end.