Best Brain Games for Seniors

“Use it or lose it” is a popular maxim that can apply to a lot of things, especially things related to your body and aging such as various muscles, libido, and, in this case, mental acuity, cognitive ability, brain function or whatever they’re calling it today. For centuries, a decline in cognitive function related to aging was simply assumed; considered inevitable. However, relatively recent research has shown that cognitive decline in most people can be controlled or mitigated by continually engaging our brains in novel and new ways as we age.

While your brain is not a muscle, it does improve the more use it gets in a way similar to a muscle.  Neurons fire, dendrites form, synapses spark which all helps us fend off dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Study after study confirms that mental engagement as we age leads to improved thinking skills, memory, concentration, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, social skills, sense of purpose and is, in most cases, entertainment.

The problem seems to be not ignorance of this fact, but motivation. It can be intimidating taking up a new skill later in life, so perhaps we should start with getting re-acquainted with old favorites.

Sure, there are plenty of brain games websites out there like Lumosity, Elevate, Brainturk and Brain Gymmer and they might be the subject of a future post, but I thought we’d focus on old school, non-computer-based brain games today.

• Chess. It doesn’t get more old school than chess, given that it originated in 6^th century India. Chess forces its participants to develop strategies, think ahead logically, engage both sides of the brain, improves memory and concentration, adapt to what your opponent does, develop critical thinking and, when played in person, maintain and improve social skills. Join a chess club and those social skills improve even more.

• Scrabble. This childhood favorite should also be a senior favorite as well. Those little wooden, letter-embossed tiles engage the recall function of our minds by forcing us to bring back words we thought we had forgotten and forces us to strategically place them on the board in the proper manner. Scrabble, due to its slow pace, also has a calming effect and elicits laughter…who hasn’t laughed at the made-up words created while playing?

• Sudoku. If you are into numbers, then sudoku is for you. This game, created in the late 1970s, is easy to locate either online or in print and comes in different skill levels. Like other games, sudoku improves concentration, memory and problem-solving skills. It also creates a sense of accomplishment when completed. And it’s a great game to engage in when alone.

• Crossword puzzles. Like sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles are easy to find, usually for free, online. Crosswords develop association skills when gamers use clues to “associate” with words that fit in the allotted spaces. They also improve logical reasoning, memory (like Scrabble, you go in search of words in your mind) and improve vocabulary skills.

• Jigsaw puzzles. Visit a local thrift store to find inexpensive and calming jigsaw puzzles. Studies show that while working on a jigsaw, participants experience lower breathing and heart rates and also lower blood pressure levels. It seems for many that jigsaw puzzles are a form of meditation. They also improve visualization and problem-solving skills while creating a sense of peace and calm. Just be sure to get a beginner’s level puzzle if you are new to the game.

• Various board games. These are great for improving social skills and games like Monopoly help with memory, problem-solving, basic math skills and categorization. Clue is great for deductive reasoning and memory as well. Board games also provide a chance to laugh. And remember, laughter is the best medicine.

The term “use it or lose it” might seem overly harsh and blunt when referencing mental acuity, but studies consistently prove it to be true. Therefore, every so often, put down the remote, wander away from a screen and engage your mind in new ways to ensure your cognitive abilities do not decline with age.  Happy gaming!