Next time if you see the old people in our families playing the cards, don’t feel angry. Instead, encourage them. Because it will help them stay mentally fit and sharp.
People who play games — such as cards and board games — are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a study suggests.Those who regularly played non-digital games scored better on memory and thinking tests in their 70s, the research found.
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 1000 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.
People who increased game playing in later years were found to have experienced less decline in thinking skills in their seventies — particularly in memory function and thinking speed.
