Any exercise involving the brain is good. The elderly who play chess report a greater mental acruity.
Is Chess Really Good for Your Brain?
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I enjoy chess because I've found that the discipline involved in solving problems has helped me to be an analytical and rational thinker in all other areas of my life.
Have to agree with Estragon on this one, especially his first paragraph.
I would like to add that chess can become an addiction, just like the drink or women, so, pick your poison.
I think playing chess increases the number of Synaptic connections in brain..
BTW, Happy Birthday, newb!
I also wonder if you golf. That is another endeavor that "teaches". Patience, discipline, thought processes, self control.
Do a forum search (that little box in the upper right hand corner) for alzheimer's and you will find a number of archived threads with some good links. I know that the New England Journal of Medicine had published an article showing that people who played bridge or chess had less chance of coming down with dementia. Of course the impossible to answer question is whether it is those activities that are of benefit or are the personalities attracted to chess and bridge simply less likely to come down with it. Good luck with your research.
Dementia can be caused by genetics, aging...who knows, maybe even too much chess.
Mar 3, 2012
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#9
David Shenk's The Immortal Game has good notes that will lead you to some of the relevant research.
Tim Redman, Chess and Education: Selected Essays from the Koltanowski Conference is another good source of information.
Homework is good for your brain, so track down, purchase, and read these books.
If you want chess to improve your brain, you need to study it, not just play.
Mar 3, 2012
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#10
Estragon wrote:
If you want to improve your brain, you should try drinking lots of craft beers and chasing after busty bar wenches. It won't improve your brain any more than chess, but your disappointment will be soothed a bit.
I believe this advice is the best you have given yet in 4430 efforts in these forums.
If you want chess to improve your brain, you need to study it, not just play.
Good advice. Some day you'll have to stop by so that we can play on my front porch. Cigars and libations are "on the house". And, from you, I know I could learn much. 
Mar 3, 2012
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#12
e4nf3 wrote:
If you want chess to improve your brain, you need to study it, not just play.
Good advice. In my case, these days, I do far more studying than playing.
Some day you'll have to stop by so that we can play on my front porch. Cigars and libations are "on the house". And, from you, I know I could learn much.
Do you have any Dry Fly Bourbon?
Estragon wrote:
Sorry, you should play the game if you enjoy it and want to improve at it for more fun, not because it will improve your brain.
!
And considering how often chessplayers seem to ruminate over this goofy question, I'd say the evidence is that it doesn't...
It's helped me to realize that the bird is the word, but then everybody else already knows about the bird.
Do you have any Dry Fly Bourbon?
I could FedX it in.
It's good for your Brain, but not good for legs.
hmmm...
Well, apparently Knight is on anyway (I hear his motor going).
Mar 3, 2012
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#19
e4nf3 wrote:
Do you have any Dry Fly Bourbon?
I could FedX it in.
Really? Better check on that. It sold out on the day of release. The photo may be the only bottle of batch one that you'll ever see.
There were a handful of bottles sold to folks that did not wait in line, such as this bottle: http://www.mutineermagazine.com/blog/2011/08/bid-to-win-batch-1-barrel-1-bottle-1-of-dry-fly-bourbon/
I just got into chess with the idea that it could improve my mind's abilities in some way. Is this a misconception? If it's disputed or unclear, please let me know why. Likewise, if there is substantial evidence supporting or disproving there are any benefits to chess. Please also tell me where you found the information.
Thanks!