Chess and Neurodegenerative Disease

This is a guest blog post by Nithin Ramasamy, a junior at Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago. To learn more about his project, and to participate in research on chess and neurodegenerative disease, please visit https://icond.azurewebsites.net. Participants can enter to win a raffle of 100 USD.

ICON-D (Impact of Chess on Neurodegenerative Disease): A Revolutionary Way of Looking at Chess by Nithin Ramasamy

Introduction

To many, chess is more than just a game. It transcends language and culture, bringing people together across generations and continents. While chess is often seen as a recreational activity, research has uncovered the profound impact it has on the brain. For example, a study on middle school students in India showed that those who received chess training had higher academic performance compared to those who didn’t participate in the training (1). Another study found that early childhood exposure to chess enhances creativity (2). These findings suggest that, much like physical exercise keeping the body fit, playing chess exercises the brain, keeping it sharp and flexible.

Working out may not reverse the natural decline in physical abilities that comes from aging, but can playing chess reverse cognitive decline caused by neurodegenerative diseases? This is a question that researchers are beginning to explore.

Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions where nerve cells in the brain deteriorate over time. These diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (3). Dementia, one of the most common forms of neurodegeneration, includes symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and impaired judgment (4).

As of 2020, approximately 50 million people globally suffer from dementia, with an additional 10 million cases diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases, and current drug therapies have been largely ineffective (5). This has prompted researchers to explore alternative therapies, including the use of board games like chess.

The Role of Board Games in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Given the limitations of drug treatments, different therapies have gained popularity. One of the most promising areas of research is board game therapy. Board games require players to use skills such as memory, critical thinking, reasoning, and social interaction (6). Since neurodegenerative diseases target these very functions, it has been theorized that playing games that stimulate these abilities can slow the progression of diseases like dementia.

Additionally, since 91% of dementia patients are elderly, physical activity may not be a feasible therapeutic option for many. Board games, on the other hand, offer a low-impact alternative that still engages the brain. A French study that spanned 20 years found that elderly people who played board games regularly had a 15% lower risk of developing dementia (8). However, this study consisted of a multitude of board games with chess being one of them. Another study found that the Chinese board game Go can enhance reasoning and social skills (7). Given this evidence, the question arises: Could chess, one of the most cognitively demanding board games, have similar effects?

ICON-D: Impact of Chess on Neurodegenerative Disease

ICON-D (Impact of Chess on Neurodegenerative Disease) offers an innovative and enjoyable way to explore how chess can potentially slow or prevent cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. By combining chess-related tasks such as chess puzzles with cognitive science, ICON-D provides a more engaging and targeted approach to assessing brain health than conventional memory and execution tests.

Chess puzzles do more than just test a player’s memory—they challenge problem-solving, strategic thinking, and planning skills. These cognitive functions are critical for identifying early signs of mental decline, such as mild memory impairment, which is often the first symptom of Alzheimer’s. Through chess, participants can keep these skills sharp, offering a proactive approach to brain health.

What makes ICON-D unique is its ability to merge meaningful research with interactive, stimulating experiences. Participants engage in a series of cognitive tests—Chess Puzzle, Tower of London, Wisconsin Card Sorting, Sequence Learning Test, and Working Memory Test. Each test is designed to assess different aspects of cognitive function that are typically affected by neurodegenerative diseases. This not only contributes to groundbreaking research but also provides participants with an enjoyable and mentally stimulating challenge.

The ICON-D Cognitive Assessments

Participants in ICON-D’s study complete five distinct cognitive tasks, each designed to measure specific areas of brain function. These tests evaluate how chess may help mitigate cognitive decline, providing valuable insights into the potential therapeutic effects of the game.

• Chess Puzzle: Participants solve 10 chess puzzles tailored to their chess rating, testing their problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
• Tower of London: This task involves rearranging colored balls on pegs to match a target arrangement in the fewest possible moves. It challenges participants’ planning and spatial reasoning abilities.
• Wisconsin Card Sorting: Participants sort cards based on an unknown rule, adapting their strategy as the rule changes. This task measures cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
• Sequence Learning Test: A 3×3 matrix is presented, and certain boxes light up in a sequence. Participants must remember and replicate the sequence, testing memory and attention.
• Working Memory Test: Participants are shown a series of numbers and must recall and input them in the correct order, assessing short-term memory retention and processing.

How the Data Will Be Analyzed

My apriori hypothesis is that, for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, chess tasks are more effective than conventional assessments like execution and memory tests as memory predicts accuracy and response times on chess tasks. By comparing participants who have a history of neurodegenerative disease versus participants who don’t have any history and have a similar chess level, we can compare the chess puzzle results with the cognitive tests. Based on the disparity of chess puzzle and cognitive tests results, we can find which would be more effective in diagnosing a neurodegenerative disease.

How to Get Involved

To participate in ICON-D, simply register at https://icond.azurewebsites.net/account/register and complete the chess puzzle and cognitive tasks: Tower of London, Wisconsin Card Sorting, Sequence Learning Test, and Working Memory Test. The collected data is secure, confidential, and used for research only.

For more detailed instructions, visit ICON-D’s FAQ page. By participating, you not only enhance your cognitive skills but also contribute to potentially groundbreaking research in the early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusion

ICON-D represents a revolutionary approach to brain health, merging the timeless game of chess with cutting-edge research into neurodegenerative diseases. By offering a series of enjoyable yet scientifically rigorous cognitive tests, ICON-D provides participants with an opportunity to sharpen their minds while helping researchers better understand the potential therapeutic benefits of chess. This engaging and interactive method underscores the power of chess to not only entertain but also to impact long-term brain health. With millions affected by diseases like Alzheimer’s, ICON-D could help pave the way toward new, non-invasive methods for early detection and cognitive therapy.

References

(1) Joseph, E., Veena Easvaradoss, V., & Solomon, N. J. (2016). Impact of chess training on academic performance of rural Indian school children. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 04(02), 20–24. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2016.42004

(2) Sigirtmac A. (2016, June 10). An investigation on the effectiveness of chess training on creativity and theory of mind development at early childhood. Educational Research and Reviews, 11(11), 1056-1063. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304617131_An_investigation_on_the_effectiveness_of_chess_training_on_creativity_and_theory_of_mind_development_at_early_childhood

(3) Neurodegenerative diseases. (2022). National Institute of Environmental Health Science. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/health/neurodegenerative

(4) What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis. (2022). National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis#signs

(5) Ning, H., Li, R., Ye, X., Zhang, Y., & Liu, L. (2020). A review on serious games for dementia care in aging societies. IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, 8, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1109/jtehm.2020.2998055

(6) Board game. (2020, July 2). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_game

(7) Lin, Q., Cao, Y., & Gao, J. (2015). The impacts of a GO-game (Chinese chess) intervention on Alzheimer disease in a Northeast Chinese population. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00163

(8)Dartigues, J. F., Foubert-Samier, A., Le Goff, M., Viltard, M., Amieva, H., Orgogozo, J. M., Barberger-Gateau, P., & Helmer, C. (2013). Playing board games, cognitive decline and dementia: a French population-based cohort study. BMJ Open, 3(8). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002998