Bridge, Bingo, and Beyond: The Games That Might Protect Your Memory

Forget expensive supplements and brain-training apps. Could a simple deck of cards hold the secret to keeping your memory sharp? In Australia, thousands of people gather each year for the Bridge for Brain Research Challenge, showing us that something as ordinary as a card game can deliver extraordinary benefits for the brain.

Bridge isn’t just a pastime. It is strategy, memory, focus, and teamwork rolled into one. Researchers have found that people who play regularly show stronger cognitive skills and may even lower their risk of dementia. Some studies suggest the risk of developing Alzheimer’s could be reduced by as much as 75 percent in frequent players. While science is still catching up to fully explain why, the message is clear: challenging the mind matters.

And it is not only bridge. Bingo makes you stay alert and pay attention to detail. Scrabble nudges your memory and word-finding skills. Mahjong asks you to recognise patterns and plan ahead. Chess tests your ability to think several steps into the future. Each of these games is a workout, not for the muscles, but for the mind. For older adults focused on healthy ageing and rehabilitation, these activities are a simple yet powerful way to support independence and quality of life.

Just as important is the social side. Sitting down with friends, sharing a laugh, and enjoying some healthy competition creates connection, and connection is vital for wellbeing. We know that loneliness can be as damaging to health as smoking or obesity. That makes a weekly bridge club or bingo afternoon far more than entertainment, it is protection for both the brain and the heart.

At Project Rehab, we see health as more than just physical strength. Our NDIS registered physiotherapist supports people not only with mobility and rehabilitation programs but also with lifestyle strategies that make ageing well achievable. We encourage people to move, to exercise, to stay mobile, but also to feed the brain with activities that are stimulating and fun. Games tick every box: they are accessible, affordable, enjoyable, and deeply beneficial.

So the next time you sit down at a card table or mark your bingo sheet, remember this: you are not only playing a game. You are investing in your memory, your independence, and your future. And that may be the smartest move you ever make.

Reference:

1. AARP, 2021 – Bridge for Brain Health

2. Amieva H, Ouvrard C, Meillon C, Dartigues JF, Ritchie K, 2013 – Self-reported leisure activities, dementia, and cognitive decline in the elderly: A 20-year prospective study

3. Li X, Fang W, Su N, et al, 2022 – Association of playing cards or mahjong with risk of dementia in older adults: A prospective cohort study in China

4. Neuroscience Research Australia, 2019 – Playing Bridge Helps Maintain an Active Brain (Bridge for Brain Research Challenge)

5. European Bridge League, 2020 – Bridge and Dementia Prevention

6. Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ, et al, 2003 – Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly

• What is at-home physiotherapy?

  At-home neurological physiotherapy brings physiotherapy to you, allowing for the highest level of comfort and convenience.

• Who can benefit from physiotherapy?

  Physiotherapy can benefit individuals with a wide range of needs. Some conditions include: Amputees. Acquired Brain Injury, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as various intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and chromosomal disorders, among others.

• Is Project Rehab NDIS Registered?

  Yes, Project Rehab is a registered NDIS provider, making it easy for clients on the NDIS program to receive neurological physiotherapy.