Games like word games, puzzles, or card games can help create more brain neurons, which can slow the decline of cognition and memory related to dementia.
Dementia causes a progressive loss of a person’s cognitive (thinking) abilities, which are crucial for everyday functioning.
When someone has dementia, they may have trouble with memory, thinking, reasoning, or even language. Losing these skills can make it difficult for them to perform their day-to-day activities.
While there’s no cure for dementia, some treatment options can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. For example, people often discuss the idea of using memory games for dementia that can help stimulate the brain.
In this article, we explore the research on how brain games might help with thinking abilities and discuss the best brain-stimulating games to play.
Games are among the many activities that can keep the human mind entertained and engaged. But more importantly, games can help stimulate our brains. This is extremely important for older adults, especially those at risk of dementia.
For example, a
Another
This can be useful in dementia, where many of a person’s cognitive skills are declining. These include some of the skills mentioned in these studies, such as memory and reasoning. And newer research has suggested that gaming may help improve these cognitive skills, especially in people with dementia.
- Board games: These can help with cognitive functions such as memory, communication, and emotional regulation.
- Video games: Video games can be customized to directly target different cognitive abilities, such as memory and reasoning.
- Virtual reality games: These can provide both cognitive and physical reinforcement, depending on the type of game.
According to the review, when early stage and middle-stage patients with dementia used serious games, they were able to improve a wide variety of cognitive abilities, including:
- short-term memory
- reaction time
- problem-solving
- logical reasoning
- communication
Still, despite a fair amount of supportive evidence for the role of games in dementia care, the literature is relatively mixed. For example, a more
Ultimately, while there’s some promise in the role of brain-stimulating games in dementia treatment, more research is needed.
We’ve known for decades now that games can be a great way to stimulate the brain. However, not all games are created equal when it comes to which skills they can train.
So, here are some of the games that may support a wide variety of cognitive skills, especially for people with dementia:
- Word puzzles: Word puzzles include games like crosswords, word searches, and anagrams. Older
research suggests crosswords may help delay the onset of memory loss in early dementia, specifically bybuilding up the neural pathways in your brain that help you retain knowledge. - Jigsaw puzzles: Similarly, engaging in these puzzles long-term
may have a positive effect on cognition, which may help slow the impact of aging or dementia on the brain. - Dice games: Many dice games rely on a lucky roll, which makes games like Yahtzee and Bar Dice extra fun and competitive. A
2020 study of the Chinese game Mahjong found that playing it for 12 weeks may benefit older adults with mild cognitive Impairment. - Card games: Popular card games include Go Fish, Bridge, Uno, and Solitaire. A
2022 Chinese study found that playing cards may correlate with better cognitive function in older adults. - Board games: Board games like Monopoly or Chess use a premade board and pieces, often with additional elements like cards and dice. A
2019 study showed that playing these games may help reduce cognitive decline in older individuals from age 70 to 79. - Video games: Video games come in many forms, from computer to handheld and mobile. Generally,
research shows that brain training games can improve cognitive function in older adults. Examples include TETRIS, Candy Crush Saga, Wii Sports, and mobile versions of word puzzles, cards, and board games.
Free games to play on your cellphone
Whether you’re a casual card gamer or a board game buff, everyone can appreciate a little freebie. Here are a few of our favorite games that you can try for free today:
Games aren’t the only activities that can help support cognitive function in people with dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, other activities that can be helpful include:
- Reading: Reading is a wonderfully enriching activity that doesn’t just involve books. You can also read poetry, magazines, newspapers, comics, and other printed or online content.
- Entertainment: Watching television shows or listening to radio shows are great examples of how modern entertainment can help keep the brain engaged.
- Arts: Art comes in many forms, such as painting, drawing, and playing musical instruments. Any form of art expression is beneficial in people with dementia.
- Learning: Learning new things, whether through a class, YouTube videos, podcasts, or other mediums, is a great way to reinforce cognitive skills in older age.
Some people with severe dementia may have difficulty doing simple tasks, so some of the activities mentioned above may be difficult for them to engage in. If this is the case, consider sticking to simpler activities, like chatting and reminiscing, looking through pictures, and listening to music.
What are the 5 things to never say to a person with dementia?
While you can’t control your loved one’s memory loss, you can control how you respond to it. People with dementia are coping with a condition that needs empathy and support. For this reason, it’s a good idea to avoid:
- reasoning with them
- arguing or confronting them
- reminding them of their forgetfulness
- questioning their recent memory
- taking their behavior personally
What is the number one trigger for dementia behavior?
Many things can trigger dementia symptoms like agitation or paranoia, so there isn’t necessarily one trigger. It often has to do with some change in the person’s immediate environment.
How do you keep dementia patients busy?
People with dementia may benefit from simplified or adapted activities that focus on engaging the senses. For instance, you can try playing them music, giving them objects to interact with, or giving them a hand massage.
Dementia affects roughly
Research suggests that brain-stimulating games and other activities might improve the ability to think in older adults and possibly reduce the risk of developing dementia.
But the exact role of brain games in dementia prevention and treatment is unknown, and more research is needed to determine just how helpful these games can be.
Still, even if we don’t know for sure whether games can help with dementia, we do know one thing: they’re a fun way to keep the brain engaged, active, and entertained at any age.
