As the population ages, many of us become more prone to age-related difficulties. Some of them are unavoidable, but others it seems we could do something about. Recently there has been a lot of research surrounding brain plasticity and if it is possible to keep your brain healthy through learning. This research suggests that some types of learning may help to lessen the effects of dementia, enabling us to live healthier lives.

The best news is that there are plenty of companies who are gamifying this learning to enable you to keep your brain young whilst taking part in an activity that you enjoy. Whilst the results can’t be guaranteed for everyone, these games are so much fun that they’re probably worth adding to your repertoire anyway.

Poker
Playing poker is already a favorite pastime for many of us, but rather than the playing itself, it’s the act of learning a new game that’s going to give your brain the boost it needs. So, if you already know how to play Texas Hold’em then why not challenge yourself to learn the rules for Five Card Stud?

Poker is a great starting place because you already know the basics, like what your hand rankings are, so there’s a level of familiarity there that will help you to keep learning.

How to Learn a New Variation
One of the easiest places to learn a new variety of poker is to try it out online first. If you choose to dive into real online casino, then there’s none of the embarrassment of not knowing the rules as there would be at a real-life casino or a card club.


Instead, you can simply learn in your own time making notes on how to improve as you go along. Many websites offer multiple different varieties of poker, so once you’ve mastered one, you can simply move onto the next and keep that brain ticking over.

Chess
Next on our list is perhaps the oldest thinking man’s game around, chess. There’s been evidence of humans playing one form of chess or anther since the 3rd century BC. This means that not only will you be partaking in a pastime that you’re oldest ancestors would have enjoyed, but you’ll also have lots of research to dive into. Like poker, learning the basics online is probably the best place to start, but once you’ve got these mastered you can choose to dive into the strategy books, or explore YouTube for tips on how to improve your game.

Which Stars Are Playing?
Interestingly, there are a lot of celebrities who enjoy playing chess in their spare time. Recently a photo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo popped up who seemed to be deep in concentration in a chess match. Whilst some people might not immediately think of professional footballers as great chess players, there are some transferable skills.

For example, it’s important to be able to anticipate your opponent’s next move on the football field and the same is true in chess. Being able to think strategically and perform under pressure are both common skills that are necessary to excel in both fields too.

Duolingo
Learning a new language isn’t just good for keeping your brain young, it’s also good for job opportunities too. Bilingual employees tend to earn significantly more than their single-language counterparts, so investing in this skill could be good for both your brain and your budget. Duolingo is a great app to start off with, as it has created simply but fun mini-games that teach you language in the same way that a native-speaking child would pick their own language up. In as little as five minutes per day, you can begin teaching yourself a whole new way of communicating.

What the Science Says
In terms of maximum bang for your buck, learning a language is perhaps the very best way to give your brain that boost. There’s been a great deal of research into this and it’s been discovered that learning a second (or third, or fourth) language promotes neuroplasticity. This means that the brain is capable of growing and changing, just like a well-exercised muscle would. Some researchers believe that this could be the key to staving off brain-related aging diseases.

Wordle
Finally, there’s a game that everyone’s been talking about lately, that could be set to become as popular as the daily crossword and that’s Wordle. This game asks you to guess a five-letter word in six tries or fewer. You begin by typing in your word and pressing enter. If a letter is correct it turns green, correct but in the wrong place it turns amber, and incorrect it turns grey.

The History of the Game
This game has a sweet history, as it was invented by a boyfriend for his girlfriend. She loved playing word puzzles but wanted a different kind of challenge, so, he invented Wordle for her. It was such a hit that the New York Times bought it for a reported $1 million last year.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2023/02/14/the-games-that-could-help-your-brain-stay-young/