Medical Brief 282 - 05 December 2019
"People who play non-digital games – such as cards, crosswords and board games – are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a longitudinal University of Edinburgh study found. The participants were part of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study, among the longest follow-ups in the world.
Those who regularly played non-digital games scored better on memory and thinking tests in their 70s, the research found. The study also found that a behaviour change in later life could still make a difference. People who increased game playing during their 70s were more likely to maintain certain thinking skills as they grew older.
Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh tested more than 1,000 people aged 70 for memory, problem solving, thinking speed and general thinking ability. The participants then repeated the same thinking tests every three years until aged 79. The group were also asked how often they played games like cards, chess, bingo or crosswords – at ages 70 and 76.
Researchers used statistical models to analyse the relationship between a person’s level of game playing and their thinking skills. The team took into account the results of an intelligence test that the participants sat when they were 11 years old. They also considered lifestyle factors, such as education, socio-economic status and activity levels."
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