Playing Chess the ultimate gymnasium of the Mind

Studies have shown that playing chess can be useful in raising academic performance among young individuals. Those who have been subjected to chess from an early age reveal improvements in logical thinking and total test scores, enhanced socialisation and better concentration. But can playing chess assist adults in these areas? A study revealed a connection between mental activity and dementia. 

They suggested playing strategy games regularly so as to stave off the onset of dementia. As strategy games go, none are better than chess. But why does chess give its players this kind of mental exercise?Although chess is a relatively easy game to find out, the new player must keep a couple of bits of information in their head in any way times. Each bit kind has a different function and capability. Initially, players must recall what each piece may be used for and then use them accordingly, but as they start to understand the game, they add analysis and strategy, which only boosts the mental workout.Chess is an energetic sport, meaning that players must stay engaged during the game play.

What this means is that they must always reevaluate the play and make alterations to their own strategies as the match progresses. Players should plan their own moves, anticipate their competitors' and adapt accordingly. With time, players have the ability to visualise potential moves and consequences, seeing the board several moves into the future. By constantly engaging the mind, chess provides the brains a serious workout. Logical thinking, analytical thinking and visualisation are all important higher-level thought processes which are constantly being used in a chess game, and these are just the kinds of procedures that experts have needed to prevent or slow down the onset of dementia.

Probably the nicest thing about chess is that it doesn't become dull. If players sit down to a game of chess, then they're faced with over ten thousand possibilities for how the game will unfold. In other words, it's exceedingly unlikely that gamer will see exactly the same match twice. Various players have different styles and strategies, which add to the selection of the game, and helps keep it fresh. This variety helps keep players returning to the board.The value of chess in maintaining the brain working can also be seen in its use as a therapeutic instrument for stroke and brain injury victims. The very same features that make chess beneficial at maintaining a mind strong can help reconstruct a brain that has been damaged. Because these people today learn to play chess, new neural pathways are formed replacing those that were damaged or lost. Existing pathways are reinforced. Concentration is improved and for a few, chess even has a calming effect.

Chess also has physiological benefit for stroke victims in that they could operate to regain fine motor skills as they move their pieces across the board.People are living longer and more and alas, the probability of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia in later life is extremely real. There are lots of things that a individual can do in order to help stave off these debilitating conditions, and keeping ones brain engaged and active seems to be at the top of the list. A regular workout of their brain's higher-level functions can go a long way toward keeping the brain invisibly into daily life, and there is no greater psychological exercise than a great game of chess.