While there’s various articles out there which suggest a correlation between gambling and mental health issues (especially with regards to a younger demographic), conversely the cerebral benefits for those with ageing minds associated with playing online casino games are rarely reported. However there’s no denying that as our bodies age, areas of the human brain starts to deteriorate too, as we frequent certain vortexes found within the cranium to a decreased extent. Although experts readily encourage elderly people to continue challenging their minds by involving themselves in various other activities which test the sharpness and agility of the ageing human mind, few extol the virtues of online casino participation as it stands. Essentially it might have something to do with the social stigma surrounding online betting with direct regard to the more negative subjects of addiction and depression, both of which can result from individuals becoming dependent on gambling as an ill-fated means of improving their financial situation.
Although nobody wishes to ignore or distract from this hugely significant issue, of course, if there’s also positives to playing online casinos which need flagging up, by the same token we shouldn’t be shying away from talking about them in more public arenas. After all it stands to reason that an activity which recruits a sizeable volume of grey matter to stay ahead of the game, so to speak, would pay dividends to older generations who perhaps require more extra-curricular mind motivation once they’ve retired and/or their social circle – and the interactions which come from it – have depleted. It’s long been regarded as pivotal to extend the freshness of the human mind by regularly engaging in pastimes which actively challenge our brains as they grow older, and that a busier state of consciousness ensures that our primary learning facility continues to compute and absorb facts and skills well into our more senior years. The moment we cease to creatively test ourselves, the sooner the brain’s capacity to function as it has done previously is compromised.
Research on the subject has revealed that gambling is considered among the best forms of improving brain health in latter years, validated by statistics which show that those who have a habit of enjoying poker in the 80-years plus age group display impressive mental capacity and generally better mindfulness than those who don’t pursue such interests. However poker isn’t the only game which depicted encouraging results, as several online and offline casino games were also said to be hugely beneficial in elongating a person’s mental alertness. What’s more, social interaction is brought sharply into focus when discussing game-playing experiences, even those of an online nature such as casino websites; where often players are competing with others, albeit in a virtual scenario.
Online Casinos Could Keep the Ageing Brain in Better Shape
In terms of the type of online casino games which are said to nourish the mind to a greater degree, and those experts who have conducted a body of research on the matter concluded that blackjack was responsible for boosting brain health. This was largely on the grounds of the game’s very premise; derived from the fact that players need to demonstrate excellent short term memory with reference to their individual gameplay, which in itself (as a tried and tested mind exercise) is almost peerless in successfully combatting the advent of dementia. Despite a consensus of players believing that blackjack is solely focused on participants’ concentrating on reaching 21, experts in cognitive behaviour would rather address the mind-training processes employed en route to achieving this target. Notably players fixating their attention on odds, while retaining short-term memory to keep tabs and possibly second-guess their opponents.
Studies involving people suffering from mental disabilities has proven that card games can readily boost cognitive attributes and challenge more established patterns, with therapists reporting that play improves skills such as counting, matching, basic math and pattern identification skills, along with memory and recall skills being exercised simultaneously. By regularly enjoying brain-motivating online casinos additional qualities – such as strategy and creativity – are brought to the fore, as players learn to predict possible outcomes and even plan future moves.
Brain Training for the Elderly via the Most Leisurely of Modern Pastimes
At the tail end of 2017 in an interview with a leading online medicine journal, the MD of the German Association of Interactive Entertainment Software, Felix Falk, echoed these beliefs and sentiments when asked about the role online gaming can play in keeping older minds more attentive. Describing how accessibility to virtual gaming is key to attracting (and maintaining the interest of the older generation), Falk was quoted as telling www.rehacare.com; “The number of gamers in Germany keeps growing. By now, half of Germany’s population plays computer games. At the moment, the fastest growing target audience is people over 50.” He went on to explain how the field of medicine would benefit in the long run, adding; “Today, dementia prevention programs (or therapeutic training) can be supported by computer games.”
Broadly speaking, online casino games lubricate the brain, in as much as they necessitate skills which tend to be employed each and every time a game is played so as to increase the probability of winning. The perpetual processing of facts, for example, which is speeded up when in game play mode, coupled with digging deep into the memory banks to revisit a factoid which may improve a players chances of furthering their run of luck then and there. Both these elements are core components in the on-going fight against the onset of senility in the elderly, and as such should be acknowledged and championed within this more positive context. Retirement shouldn’t be seen as the official start line to the inevitability of either your body or mind reducing its pace or slowing down, and while the health advantages of continuing to physically exercise when you’re older are universally documented for the greater good, anything which serves to keep the cognitive system on its toes should be equally promoted.
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Guest Author Bio
Sarah Aspland
Sarah Aspland is a writer that covers a range of reviews. She’s here to share her experiences with her readers in order to ensure they receive the best. She’s currently in the process of reviewing a variety of new things one of which is covered in this article.
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