Does Chess improve the mind?

Over the last few months I have come across more than one claim that chess can improve your mind - powers of concentration, logical thinking etc. Is this true? Any chess players out there who have experienced this? I have not been playing long enough to notice any difference, and since I have Narcolepsy I need all the improvement I can Get.  

A quick search found these

Chess Improves Academic Performance

Chess Makes Kids Smarter

Benefits of Chess

I read that it will help with alzeheimers  sp  because it keeps the mind sharp.  Also it is always good to exercise anything we are given to be sharp.

I read a study that said it helps improve spatial reasoning and problem solving. Makes sense to me.

My calculus homework has seemed a tad easier since I've picked up chess, but that could be entirely unrelated. :)

It is arguable. Chess can be considered like the rest of those Brain games like Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, which is being argued whether they actually work. I am not sure if chess actually helps with reasoning and problem solving, but it sure makes sense.

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps there's hope for me yet!