People tend to think that playing cards is just a leisurely activity to have fun with good friends. Card games, specifically strategic ones, also have more health benefits than one would think. See these five benefits of card games for better senior health.
1. Card Games Reduce Stress
Playing cards offers a stress-free environment. It gives you the opportunity to get away from your phone, email, and television to really enjoy your company. Here are some other ways how playing card games reduces stress.
2. Cognitive Benefits of Playing Cards
Playing different card games like Bridge, Gin Rummy, Texas Hold-Em, and even Solitaire help sharpen cognitive functions. Keeping your mind sharp is something seniors strive for, so keep exercising that brain of yours! Strategic card games exercise memory and concentration, which help prevent cognitive decline in seniors.A study from 2003 found that, “Participation in leisure activities [including playing cards] is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.”
3. Playing Cards Benefits the Immune System
A study by Marian Cleeves Diamond of the University of California found that playing card games like Bridge may boost immunity. Read more about the study on how playing bridge boosts the immune system.
4. Social Benefits of Card Games
An article by Health Line showed that studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated nearly 7 million American adults 65 years of age and older experience depression each year. Playing cards is the perfect way to stay social and connect with those around you. Friendship improves your life by reducing stress, encouraging laughter and happiness, and increasing positivity.
5. Physical Benefits of Playing Cards
Shuffling and holding cards helps exercise your reflexes and hand-eye-coordination. Learn more about the different senior health benefits of playing cards.
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FAQs
Card games engage a variety of cognitive skills, such as concentration, attention, and critical thinking. By regularly exercising these skills through card games, seniors can keep their minds sharp and maintain mental health.
Is playing card games good for the brain? ›
Card Games Are Great Exercise for the Brain
Our brain ages along with the rest of our body, which often results in cognitive decline. It is vital to keep the mind active if you want it to remain sharp in old age. Card games require strategic thinking and problem-solving, which challenges one's cognitive abilities.
What are some interesting facts about playing cards? ›
A standard deck of cards is a calendar in disguise. There are 52 cards in a standard deck, which some believe represents the 52 weeks in a year. Additionally, if you add up all the symbols in a deck, the total is 365, mirroring the number of days in a year.
What are the educational value of playing cards? ›
The cognitive skills triggered by playing card games with children are numerous: from memorisation to matching, number and pattern recognition and the promotion of more complex math concepts depending on the difficulty level.
Does playing cards improve memory? ›
This active engagement with the game stimulates memory function, exercising the brain's ability to retain and recall information. Regular card playing can help older adults maintain and improve their memory skills, supporting cognitive health and potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
Does playing cards relieve stress? ›
Games can be more than just a fun way to pass time; they also offer a number of mental health benefits as well, encouraging socialisation, alleviating stress and keeping the mind sharp and active.
Is playing cards good for dementia? ›
Are card games suitable for people living with dementia? Card games are a fantastic way to sharpen cognitive functions, including memory and concentration. They also reduce stress and are an excellent opportunity to connect with loved ones and enjoy time together.
Do card games prevent dementia? ›
Topline. Puzzles, card games, chess and adult education classes can reduce the risk of developing dementia over the age of 70 by as much as 11%, a new study found, but participating in group activities and maintaining active social circles have little impact on late-in-life memory loss.
Which game makes your brain stronger? ›
Unlike other brain-training games, sudoku improves multiple skills at once. “Most brain-training games focus on one cognitive skill, but sudoku focuses on multiple,” explains Dr. Hunter. “When you play sudoku, you are improving your attention, problem-solving skills and computational abilities.”
Why should you play cards? ›
Card games rely heavily on short-term memory skills, but have also been shown to improve long-term memory and other cognitive functions, too.
Cognitive benefits of playing cards
Playing card games is good for your brain. Regardless of your age, card games develop and improve your memory, problem-solving ability, strategic thinking, and concentration.
What is the most important playing card? ›
The ace of spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) is traditionally the highest and most valued card in the deck of playing cards. The actual value of the card varies from game to game.
What does Q mean in cards? ›
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack or Knave (J), Queen (Q), King (K), Ace (A).
What do the playing cards stand for? ›
The most common theory is that the 52 cards represent 52 weeks in a year. The four colors represent the four seasons. The 13 cards in a suit represent the thirteen weeks in each season, Four suits times 13 cards in a suite equals 52.
What does the J mean in cards? ›
therefore replaced with J for jack. Originally this was the name applied to the knave of trump in the old game of all fours, which had already achieved wide popularity in preference to the archaic-sounding knave in other games.
Is card good for your stomach? ›
Curd is rich in protein. It reduces the problem of the stomach. It helps in digestion. Card also helps in reducing weight.
Is card good for weight loss? ›
The Best Carb to Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals
Answer: Whole grains, says Susie. Yes, that is an entire food category, but foods like brown rice, oatmeal and quinoa are too good to choose just one. Whole grains are grains that contain the entire grain: bran, germ and endosperm.
