Do older people who play these games regularly have a lower risk of dementia?

In 2022, 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with 10 million new cases each year.

Loss of cognitive function affects the physical and mental health of people with dementia and the well-being of their caregivers and families, but no completely effective treatment has yet been proven, so identifying new strategies to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in the elderly is urgent.

For older adults, dementia prevention can be helped by making changes to daily life. An enriched lifestyle with varied leisure activities can reflect an optimistic personality and confer cognitive benefits by stimulating the growth of neurons and synapses and promoting a sense of well-being.

So, which leisure activities can reduce the risk of dementia?

A new study from Monash University in Australia has found that regularly engaging in certain types of cognitively stimulating leisure activities may help prevent dementia in older people. Compared with crafts, painting or social activities, using computers, playing crossword puzzles and playing chess are more closely associated with avoiding dementia in older people.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open - the strongest research to date on the topic - could help older adults and elderly care professionals develop more targeted approaches to reduce the risk of dementia.

The researchers collected data from 10,318 Australian older adults aged 70 years and older, with a median age of 73.8 years at baseline and 52.6% female. A total of 19 measures of leisure activities and social networks assessed at baseline were categorized using exploratory factor analysis.

The results of the study found that:

Participants who regularly participated in adult literacy activities (such as taking educational classes, using a computer, writing letters or keeping a journal) and active mental activities (such as playing games, cards or chess, and doing crossword puzzles or jigsaw puzzles) were 9%-11% less likely to develop dementia than their peers.

Participants who regularly participated in creative art activities (such as handicrafts, knitting and painting) and passive mental activities (such as reading, watching TV, listening to music or radio) had a 7% lower risk of dementia.

In contrast, personal networks, social activities, and outings or meals were not associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

The results remained statistically significant even after adjusting for early education level and socioeconomic status. No significant differences were found between males and females.

"The results tell us that actively manipulating previously stored knowledge may play a greater role in reducing dementia risk than passive recreational activities," said Joanne Ryan, associate professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and senior author of the study. "It is particularly important to keep the mind active and challenged."

“While engaging in literacy and intellectual activities may not be a panacea for avoiding dementia, if the goal is to avoid dementia, this study certainly suggests that these activities are most likely to support good cognitive health over the long term.”

Ryan also said that social connections may also be important for cognitive health and mental health, although no clear link with dementia risk was shown in the study. "These participants were cognitively healthy and likely already led active social lives, so the cognitive benefits of a strong social network may not be as clear in this group compared to the general population."

Reference source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807256