Playing Bridge Dementia Prevention or Therapy As Well
Abstract
Marek Ma�?ysa
We conducted two experiments: first in Alzheimer’s Center in Warsaw and second in two Welfare Houses in Toru�?. In April 2018 Alzheimer’s Center in Warsaw accepted bridge lessons for their patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. We checked if MCI patients could learn new skills and play a simple version of the game bridge. Thirteen out of twenty patient -volunteers played one year every 3 hours a week. Patients and the control group were tested with MMSE initially and after one year. An average loss of MMSE results in the „playing group” was more than two and a half times lower than in the control. In 2019 we applied bridge lessons to patients of Welfare Houses, mostly MCI. Initially and after 20 weeks of intervention, we checked them with MMSE, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and PERMA. Unlucky, due to COVID-19, we couldn’t complete the MMSE results. In effect, depression, initially close to pathological, almost disappeared, and well-being rose significantly. In both experiments, social relations were created within playing tables, what’s surprising, especially in the Alzheimers Center case. Playing bridge has been accepted there as one of the essential therapies.