Every 66 seconds someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s. If that does not alarm you, beware that 1 in every 3 seniors is suffering from this disease. And for those money-grubbers, every hour this disease is costing 18.3 million US dollars. Alzheimer’s is one type of dementia, while it accounts for 60% of all dementia cases.
To learn more http://www.alz.org/
So, what is this disease?
Alzheimer’s disease leads to progressive degeneration brain cells and tissue throughout the brain. The brain degeneration starts ten years before any symptoms are found. Deposits of proteins inside the brain cause neurons to stop functioning, lose connection with other neurons and die.
To learn more http://www.alz.org/braintour/3_main_parts.asp
Why is it so dangerous?
There is no cure.
We don’t know the cause
It is irreversible.
Degeneration is very slow and painful. As the patient loses memory, control of limbs, ability to swallow, thus making them completely dependent on others.
What are we doing about it?
US government realizes that this disease is 6th largest killer in US and third largest cause of death of elderly. They are pumping in one billion dollars into research for cure and recovery.
Over 15 million volunteers are providing support and care through 18 bullion hours of work.
Connecting the Dots
63 Average Retirement age in the US [5]
10 Years for dementia to be detected [6]
79 Life Expectancy in the USA [7]
These facts and figures allude to the possibility that decline in mental activity post retirement could be providing fertile ground for dementia to develop over next 10 to 15 years.
While researchers don’t have a cure for this disease and they can’t prevent it, is there a possibility of reducing the risk?
This is where brain exercises are being reviewed for their ability to reduce risk. Research has shown that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections. You could even generate new brain cells.
Chess
The ancient game of Chess has shown to provide innumerable benefits for elderly. Chess provides an opportunity for socialization and helps strengthen overall mental health. Chess stimulates both left and right hemisphere of the brain providing balanced exercise, thus resulting in better mental capacity and information retention. Chess also helps the growth of dendrites, which in turn improves the performance of the brain. Research has linked chess to lower rates dementia in active chess players. Of all current chess grandmasters, none show signs of dementia. Of course, none of these statistics show a clear cause-and-effect relationship, but there is enough of a positive correlation for us to believe in chess’ benefits.
Chess for a Cause was formed with the aim of introducing seniors to the game of chess, teaching them, and playing with them regularly. We currently work with five senior care and assisted living centers in metro Atlanta area. We plan to grow with volunteer participation and expansion into other areas.
References and Further Reading:
Help End Alzheimer's. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from http://www.alz.org/
Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
(chessbazaar), C. B. (n.d.). How to Cure Alzheimer's disease with chess. Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.chess.com/blog/chessbazaar/how-to-cure-alzheimerrsquos-disease-with-chess
How Alzheimer's Disease Changes the Brain. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from http://immersive.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/d/LBLN/how-alzheimers-disease-changes-the-brain/flat/
Anspach, Dana. “Average Retirement Age In The United States.” The Balance, www.thebalance.com/average-retirement-age-in-the-united-states-2388864.
“Alzheimer's Diagnosis: Disease May Start 18 Years Before Symptoms Appear.” Time, Time, time.com/3934306/alzheimers-early-diagnosis/.
“National Center for Health Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 May 2017, www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm.
“Stay Mentally Active.” Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org/we_can_help_stay_mentally_active.asp.
“Checkmating Alzheimer's Disease.” Chess News, 20 May 2013, en.chessbase.com/post/checkmating-alzheimers-disease-210513.