Bingo's Many Benefits

As of 2023, nearly 7 million American adults, mostly 65 and older, have Alzheimer's disease. Researchers estimate that by 2060, that figure will rise to 14 million people.

This disease and other forms of dementia rob people of their memories, ability to problem-solve, make judgment calls and even understand language. It also can hinder them from performing basic tasks and reduce quality of life.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, there are ways to take charge of your brain health and maintain your independence as long as possible. And if you guessed that one way is to play games, as Oscar winner Christoph Waltz once said, "That's a bingo!"

Sure, puzzles and other game play have benefits, but there are several scientific studies that specifically illustrate the incredible power of bingo—a game that originated in Italy as far back as the 1500s (then called "lotto").

Since the game was renamed and popularized in America in the 1920s, bingo has done more than entertain 60 million players annually. In one study, compared to walking daily, bingo players had better ability to concentrate, remember words and access short-term memory.

That may be because of the combination of physical and intellectual stimulation. Not only does bingo require motor skills when players place tokens or stamps on their cards, but they have to listen to the "callers" announce numbers, remember those numbers and then find those numbers on their cards.

In another recent study, researchers introduced Bingocize—a combination of bingo and exercise—to older adults. This version of the game required people to participate in two 45 to 60-minute sessions where they did two exercises, then rested while two bingo numbers were called out. Then, they repeated the process. After 10 weeks of this alternating game, participants had improved muscle strength, balance, flexibility, blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness and cognition skills.

In addition, these games provided people with the opportunity for socialization—a big part of keeping your brain healthy. In fact, the Alzheimer's Association reports that social isolation can increase dementia risk by as much as 60%.

And even if you can't find an in-person game, there's still good news. Another study found that playing online had similar benefits to playing in person when it came to socialization and memory recall.

Remember, even if you don't have a family history of dementia, or you aren't experiencing Alzheimer's symptoms yet, it's never too soon to take charge of your brain health.

So why not find a local game, play online or print out free game cards for your next gathering? Not only will it be fun, you'll be protecting your mind in the process. And that feels like winning to us—especially when it can lower your dementia risk by 15%.

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