Chess and Dementia Prevention
What research tells us about the role of chess and mentally stimulating activities in maintaining brain health as we age.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-14
Professor Archer says: I play chess with a group of retired professionals every week, and they are some of the sharpest minds I know. Is it because chess keeps their brains active, or because sharp people are drawn to chess? Probably both. Either way, they are having a wonderful time and keeping their minds engaged.
The Cognitive Reserve Theory
The scientific concept behind mentally stimulating activities and brain health is called "cognitive reserve." The idea is that engaging in complex mental activities throughout life builds a reserve of neural connections that can compensate for age-related brain changes.
Think of it like a savings account for your brain. The more you deposit through challenging mental activities, the larger your reserve when you begin to draw on it in later years. Chess, with its demands on memory, planning, and problem-solving, is an excellent way to make deposits.
Research suggests that people who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities may have a lower risk of developing dementia symptoms, even when their brains show the same physical changes as those who do develop symptoms. The reserve does not prevent brain changes, but it provides a buffer.
What the Studies Show
A landmark 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Verghese and colleagues followed 469 adults aged 75 and older for over five years. The researchers found that participants who regularly engaged in board games, including chess, had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. Specifically, frequent board game players had a 74 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those who rarely played.
One important caveat is that most of these studies are observational, meaning they show correlation rather than causation. It is possible that people who are naturally more cognitively engaged throughout life both play chess and have lower dementia risk for the same underlying reasons. The Verghese study acknowledged this limitation while noting that the association remained significant even after controlling for baseline cognitive status.
That said, the weight of evidence supports the common-sense notion that exercising your brain helps maintain its function, just as exercising your body helps maintain physical health. Chess, with its simultaneous demands on memory, planning, and spatial reasoning, is one of the most comprehensive mental workouts available.
Chess as Part of a Brain Health Plan
Chess alone is not enough to prevent dementia. The most effective approach to brain health combines multiple factors: regular physical exercise, social engagement, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and mentally stimulating activities.
Chess fits beautifully into this approach because it provides both mental stimulation and social connection, especially when played at a club or with friends. The combination of challenging your mind while engaging with other people hits two important items on the brain health checklist simultaneously.
For older adults who are new to chess, the game offers an additional benefit: it provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Having a hobby that involves continuous learning and measurable progress contributes to overall wellbeing, which itself supports brain health.
Questions About Chess and Brain Health
Is it too late to start chess for brain health benefits?
No. Research suggests that engaging in new mentally stimulating activities at any age can contribute to cognitive reserve. Starting chess at sixty or seventy still provides the benefits of learning something new and exercising your brain regularly.
How often should I play chess for brain health?
Regularity matters more than duration. Playing or studying chess two to three times per week provides consistent mental stimulation. Even short sessions of fifteen to twenty minutes engage the relevant cognitive systems.
Is chess better than puzzles like crosswords or Sudoku?
All of these activities provide mental stimulation. Chess may offer a broader range of cognitive engagement because it involves memory, planning, spatial reasoning, and social interaction simultaneously. The best activity is the one you enjoy enough to do consistently.
Professor Archer says: Chess is not a magic shield against cognitive decline, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. But it is one excellent tool in a larger toolkit that includes physical exercise, social connection, and lifelong learning. Use every tool available.
Quick Quiz
What is "cognitive reserve" in the context of brain health?
- A part of the brain that only chess players develop - Cognitive reserve is not a physical structure unique to chess players. It is a general concept about how mental engagement builds resilience against cognitive decline.
- A reserve of neural connections built through mental stimulation that buffers against cognitive decline (Correct) - Correct. Cognitive reserve refers to the brain's resilience built through a lifetime of mental engagement, which can compensate for age-related changes and delay the appearance of dementia symptoms.
- The maximum number of chess games a person can remember - Cognitive reserve is about overall brain resilience, not specific memory capacity for chess games.
- A vitamin supplement marketed to chess players - Cognitive reserve is a scientific concept, not a product. It is built through consistent mental engagement, not supplements.