According to the CDC, around 5.8 million people in the US suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease and other related dementias. 5.6 million are above 65 years old, no less. They also estimate that the number of Alzheimer’s patients will grow to 14 million by 2060. The truth is that dementia is one of the leading causes of cognitive and mental health decrease of millions of Americans.
Disproportionate Numbers of Women and Minorities with Dementia
Women are two times as likely to receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis compared to men, and experts believe that this is caused by women’s longer lifespan. Moreover, minorities are also under disproportionate risk of developing dementia, especially for Hispanic people. This might be caused by social determinants of health, which affect both women and minorities.
Fortunately, there are ways we can prevent dementia in all categories of people. Keep reading to learn more!
Best Brain Games to Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s
One of the best methods of preventing cognitive decline is brain stimulation. And games make for the perfect stimulation. They’re enjoyable and can act as a hobby for many people. Below, we’ll talk about the five best brain games that help prevent dementia:
- Card Games
Card games require concentration, reasoning skills, a good memory, and problem-solving skills. Coincidentally, these skills are also the ones most affected by cognitive decline, which is why card games like Solitaire or Uno might help prevent cognitive decline in these areas.
- Word Puzzles
Word searches, anagrams and word games in general are exceptionally helpful at honing your memory, language, word recalling ability, and word arrangement skills. Scrabble is a good example of a word game that could prevent dementia in older adults because it protects the brain functions.
- Dice Games
Research has shown that dice games preserve and improve calculation and numerical skills, safely preserving cognitive integrity for longer. Plus, the luck involved in these games will lead to more excitement and a more positive outlook.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are perfect crutches for preserving memory and improving your reasoning skills. They can also grow in difficulty and put your mind at work, and they also require more motor skills. All in all, they’re enjoyable and functional ways of preserving your brain health for as long as possible. It’s also a good way to engage socially.
Board Games
Board games are, overall, the best method to preserve brain integrity because they combine most of the elements of the other games. Chess, checkers, and monopoly are just a couple of examples of great board games. And considering the heightened rise in dementia cases, physicians should really consider brain games as a solution to reducing cognitive decline among their patients.
More and more studies are showing the beneficial effects of brain games on the cognitive functions of older adults. The best thing about them is that patients can incorporate games into their daily lives and enhance their cognitive functions without any specific efforts. The enjoyment factor will make this process occur naturally.
Physicians play an important role in recommending these games to their patients, though. Due to their significant potential in reducing the occurrence of dementia, brain games are quickly taking on an essential role in keeping older adults healthy and sane. They could also be used to mitigate the impact and/or severity or Alzheimer’s in older adults by training their brain functions constantly.
This might lead to a slower cognitive decline and the preservation of brain functionality for extended periods. For more information regarding this topic, call Primary Medical Care Center at (305) 751-1500 or use our contact form to learn more!