Checking Alzheimer's with chess - Heartening research continues

Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010


Hi Everyone,


We found this nice report about chess and Alzheimer's. Scientists are increasingly supporting the idea of how chess can keep our brains young. Wow.

            

Research has shown that the memory can begin to fade from the age of 20 - but it's hoped that mental exercise like chess, can checkmate the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.              

Former World Chess Champion, Russian grandmaster Anatoly Karpov led a team in Nice - against French counterpart Joel Lautier - in Moscow - in a special study recently to see if chess could protect against Alzheimer's Disease. 

             

The scientists monitored the players brain activity as they struggled with complex moves, measuring their emotional and psychological reactions and stress levels.

              

The researchers believe the intellectual rigours of chess could provide the perfect antidote to Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, according to Professor Philippe Robert. 

             

Professor Philippe Robert, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis said: "This is not only memory disturbances but there are other cognitive functions that are impaired. For instance attentional processes, or the fact... The organizational strategy in front of a task. And in chess, you have all these components." 

             

More than 35 million people suffer from Alzheimer's Disease and with a rapidly ageing population, especially in industrialised countries, the figure could double in the next 20 years. 

             

Professor Philippe Robert, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis says, "This type of serious game is a protecting factor in order to have a normal cognitive functioning even in the elderly. If you have a normal cognitive functioning, you fight against AD, Alzheimer 's disease." 

             

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com