Introducing Card Games as Therapy among Seniors
The National Institute on Aging promotes card games among seniors. Because according to research, it revealed that playing strategic card games helps in exercising concentration and memory retention. With continuous practice, it can help in reducing or preventing cognitive declines among older adults. Basically, some are even playing free card games in 우리카지노 for fun.
Card Games and its Cognitive Benefits
According to Keith Josephs, one of the neurologists at Mayo Clinic based in Rochester, Minn., there’s small evidence that engaging in games prevents Alzheimer’s Disease or any degenerative process that normally happens among seniors. Instead, it may help in delaying the onset of its symptoms.
On a 2014 study at University of Wisconsin-Madison on the other hand, it says that participants who are often engaging in card games, board games, checkers or some puzzle games throughout their middle age had better brain volume compared to those who played no or fewer games on the same age range. People who have later developed brain diseases experienced a bigger decrease into their brain volume.
As per research, recreational activities similar to card games are useful in stimulating nerve growth in parts of the brain that is processing executive function and emotions.
How about Immunological Benefits?
Card games do offer protective benefits among its participants. In an experiment performed by a neuroscientist, Marian Diamond, it showed that seniors are likely to increase the number of their immune cells referred to as CD-4 positive T cells after they play card games.
There is a separate study performed among adults who are being treated for alcoholism. It showed that engaging in recreational activities similar to playing card games brought positive impact on their condition. For one, it helped in decreasing their stress levels and improving their mood in the process. Most specifically, the participation in card as well as board games have helped in lowering plasma cortisol levels.
Promoting Social Benefits
One of the vital elements of card games is to socialize. Majority of the card games are involving 2 or more people in order to play it. Because of this, just a simple game starts friendship among people and most especially, residents in senior care facilities. Social engagement is also linked to stronger immune system, lower risk of dementia, better mental health and even decreased depression.
On top of the social and mental benefits of card games, playing card games promotes motor skills like by improving hand-eye coordination and reflexes of seniors.
