Effectiveness of a chess-training program for improving cognition, mood, and quality of life in older adults: A pilot study.

Abstract

Verbatim from Semantic Scholar. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

BACKGROUND Regular practice of a cognitively stimulating activity, such as chess, can help maintain a healthy cognitive, social, and psychological state during the aging process. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a chess-training program on cognitive status, mood, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of institutionalized and semi-institutionalized older adults. METHOD A nonrandomized, controlled pilot study with repeated measures (pre- and post-intervention) was conducted. RESULTS Analyses revealed a positive impact of the chess program on general cognitive status (p < 0.001) and promising evidence (p < 0.043) of an impact on attention, processing speed, and executive functions. The participants in the intervention group also showed significant improvement in QoL scores (p < 0.021). CONCLUSIONS A 12-week chess-training protocol with two 60-minute sessions per week improved cognition and QoL in a sample of institutionalized and semi-institutionalized older adults. Further research with larger samples is needed to explore its effects in depth.

Authors

• N. Cibeira
• L. Lorenzo-López
• A. Maseda
• Julia Blanco-Fandiño
• Rocío López-López
• J. Millán-Calenti

Keywords

• Medicine
• Psychology