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Board games can spark the mind and help battle dementia
By THERESA CAMPBELL, DAILY SUN
THE VILLAGES — Fay Driscoll finds playing Scrabble a great mental exercise.
“I do this because it helps my mind, and I like it as well,” the Village of Country Club Hills resident said Monday afternoon, while playing the game at Paradise Recreation Center. “Playing Scrabble is thought-provoking and you have to really think.”
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America notes that for successful aging and good brain health, “the goals are to slow or prevent the loss of brain cells, maintain the brain’s capacity to make up for any loss, and let remaining brain cells function well. This requires a healthy body, mind and spirit.”
Among the AFA’s tips:
“Participate in activities that stimulate your brain, such as reading, crossword puzzles, playing bridge and other mental exercises.”
Driscoll is doing just that. She plays Scrabble about twice a week, and also plays several card games.
Does she think it’s working to help ward off memory loss?
“I surely hope so,” she said.
Frank Savo, of the Village of Glenbrook, hopes for the same. He plays chess at Paradise Center, and also plays chess online.
Theresa Rougeux, of the Village of Valle Verde, has found her twice-a-week habit of playing Scrabble is a great way to socialize and keep her mind alert.
“I just love it. I’m addicted to it,” Rougeux said with a chuckle. “I do keep active. I also play bridge and other card games, and I play the dulcimer once a week, and I play the piano, and I take yoga also, and swimming. I’m hoping my brain will stay healthy for another couple of years or so.”
By being physically and socially active, while also taking time to relax with yoga, Rougeux may be pleased to know these activities are also doing wonders for her brain health. In addition to engaging in activities to stimulate the mind, the AFA recommends these additional tips for aging successfully:
Manage stress through techniques such as relaxation, meditation and yoga.
Be social. Maintaining a network of friends will lessen the likelihood of isolation and depression while increasing the overall level of brain stimulation.
Exercise daily, such as walking 30 minutes per day. Physical activity significantly lessens the chance of cardiovascular complications that could cause dementia.
Control hypertension, diabetes and heart disease — risk factors for dementia — through physical exercise, quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol and avoiding obesity.
Follow a healthy diet and take vitamins, including vitamins C and E, and folic acid.
Cheryl Coco Lewis, of the Village of Tierra del Sol, credits her 83-year-old mother with getting her hooked on Scrabble as a young girl.
“My mom turned me on to the game when I was about 6 years old, so I could learn how to spell better,” Lewis recalled. Now, the Villager loves playing the game with her 7-year-old granddaughter when she visits.
Lewis also enjoys playing Scrabble with her mom once a week, even though her mother’s memory is slowly declining from the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is something she can remember. She remembers how to play, where the words go, and how to interact those words,” Lewis said. “She takes on a whole new persona when she’s playing Scrabble. She’s lively; you can see that light in her eye again.”
Theresa Campbell is a senior features writer with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9260, or theresa.campbell@thevillagesmedia.com.
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