The Importance of "Mind Sports” Like Chess

By Guest Blogger: Evan Rabin

During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of seniors around the world have been and remain isolated. For over a year, they have been unable to socialize with family and friends. While progress has been made ( I have personally received my second vaccine), most people I speak with do not anticipate the world returning to “normal” any time soon.  

Mentally challenging games, such as chess, can help older adults, or anyone for that matter, manage the stressors that the pandemic has thrust upon us. There are virtual platforms for learning and playing chess with real live people which allows for safe socialization. 

In addition to relieving stress and providing for social engagement, there are studies that show that “cognitively stimulating activities,” such as chess, which require a lot of brain power, can help improve a person’s memory and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6617066/  

About Evan:

Evan Rabin, a National Chess Master himself, is the founder and CEO of Premier Chess. If you would like to learn more about the social and health-related benefits of chess please contact Evan at Evan@PremierChess.com. Premier Chess (https://premierchess.com/) offers online and in-person individual lessons and group classes. Premier Chess partners with companies and non-profit organizations to help realize Evan’s dream that anybody who wants to play chess anywhere in the world should be able to do so.