Family Game Time 2 - Gaming with Grandma & Grandpa

Welcome back to Family Game Time. In our first post, we talked about benefits of playing games with small children. Today, we are going to the other end of the spectrum and talk about playing games with the Grand Parents. 

Board games, and other table top games, are great activities for families. Not only to do you spend time together, building memories that will last for years, getting rid of the screens and digital barriers allows for personal interactions that reinforce bonds. And reinforcing those bonds is one of the topics for today. 

Alzheimer and Dementia are two afflictions that can affect us all as we age. Both of these conditions affect cognitive faculties and a break down of thought processes and memories. While there is no cure, there are treatment options and behaviors which can delay the onset of both. 

Several studies have been done in the last several years (linked at the end of the post) that have shown gaming, particularly table-top gaming, can delay the onset of both Alzheimer and Dementia. This is a massive benefit for those who are likely to develop either affliction. 

Playing board games teaches you to think in different ways. Even the change of base mechanics from resource management to action selection or worker placement give very different thought processes, even within the same theme. Playing the same game repeatedly trains your brain in one way to think, to approach the "problem" the game and your opponent's present. Changing up the games you play, moving through different themes, mechanics, presentations, teaches the players to approach each puzzle differently. 

All of this is in addition to spending a quality afternoon or evening in the company of fantastic people. 

We would be happy to help guide you through hobby board games and give suggestions for games you and your Grand Parents would enjoy. 

Thanks again for joining us and expect another Family Game Time next month. 

Activities and games for patients with Alzhemiers  - By Hospital News

Playing board games, cognitive decline and dementia: a French population-based cohort study - a case study by NBCI. This is a scientific study and is a little rough to ready. This is the first line of the Results - "Among 3675 non-demented participants at baseline, 32.2% reported regular board game playing. Eight-hundred and forty participants developed dementia during the 20 years of follow-up. The risk of dementia was 15% lower in board game players than in non-players "