Here are two interesting articles about the Alzheimer's Disease and ways to reduce your risk for it. Chess is listed as one of the ways to reduce your risk for this disease. Here are the articles:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/news-42768-31.html

 

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/530949/?sc=rsmn

 

Can playing chess really reduce your risk for the Alzheimer's Disease? Is there proven research for this or is it just speculation? What do you think? 

Chess? or mental activity in general?

I think it goes like this: playing chess makes you mentally unstable, being mentally unstable makes your imagination run wild, and a wild imagination keeps you young.

I was going to answer your question...but...but...I can't remember what I was going to say! What day is it, anyway?

Lol both Erik and Chessbuff!!!

I do a lot of research in the field of psychology. First I'm gonna pop Eriks bubble! :)

Chess may inadvertently drive you crazy, but in reality I think the possible anti-social aspect of it (not coming out of the house because of chess study, that sort of thing.) is what made Bobby Fischer who he is/was,( I'm not sure if he is dead yet, would someone tell me if he is or isn't) besides some bad parenting. He never learned any social skills!

Secondly, Chess is an activity that keeps the mind going. My guess is that some people with Alzheimers do few mentally stimulating activities. With out the mental stimulation the mind starts to slow down, kinda like muscles shrinking if you don't excercise weekly. The mind would continue to function but at a slower pace due to the afore mentioned degeneration of the brain. Other things associated with Alzheimers, but connected with lack of mental stimulation, are depression, boredom, ect. So yes laughter may slow down Alzheimers!!!

    Chess, or any mental stimulation (only including some drugs!!!) is mental excercise, as well as a social thing, as long as you aren't v.s. a computer. I don't think that the thinking aspect works well on its own. The social part is key the the process of mental health. Its get the laughter endorphines going, which help the immune system. Fresh air helps as well.

I remember watching some news report that said Nintendo's game "Brain Age" would prevent Alzheimers for people who played it an hour a day or something. It's a game that is built around various logic puzzles, basic math, word, and picture problems. Chess is so much about pattern recognition and logical thinking, it's gotta be hands-down better than that game for helping prevent the disease.

 

And I'm pretty sure Fischer is still kicking somewhere, wiki says he's 64.