Although not a significant concern, mild forgetfulness is part of the ageing process. Research shows that trivia quizzes, such as when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held the first Monetary Policy Committee meeting and other quiz questions can help improve your memory retention power. Older people can stay sharp by honing new skills, like learning a language, participating in mind games, exercising, socialising, etc. Such games can help people improve their memory.

According to a University of York study, “adults aged 60 and older, who play digital puzzle games, had a greater ability to ignore irrelevant distractions.”

Here are nine games for older people to improve memory.

Trivia Quizzes:

A trivia quiz is an interesting game that thoroughly engages the mind. The fact that the questions are often simple and familiar to people makes the game exciting and engaging. People can play the quizzes with their family members. It improves memory, social connections, and mental health.

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Rebus Puzzle:

Riddles become boring if you are not able to crack them. But if there is a picture in the puzzle, it suddenly becomes interesting, for example, the ‘Rebus Puzzle’. You must guess the word, expression, or phrase in picture-based riddles.

Chess:

The popular game of chess originated in India around the 6th century and, over time, spread to other parts of the world. The 8*8 board game has two-colour (black and white) alternate squares and six types of pieces: king, queen, bishop, knight, rook, and pawns. The game not only helps in strategic thinking but also improves focus. Seniors can enjoy it alone or with other people online and offline.

Card Game:

Card games, invented over 1,000 years ago, are known to keep the mind sharp. They are played between two or more people. Whether it is Noddy, Spades, Poker, Bridge, or Solitaire, these games are fun to play and improve memory and social connections.

Crossword Puzzle:

You must have seen crossword puzzles in newspapers or on the back of children’s notebooks. The game originated in Britain in the 19th century but rapidly found a large following. Crossword puzzles are not only for language but are now available in different versions, such as a number puzzle.

Bingo:

This raffle game, popularly known as Tambola in India, is one of the favourites at large gatherings. In one way, it provides a chance to socialise, and in another way, it improves the cognitive abilities of seniors, boosts fine motor skills, and improves their reflexes. Unlike chess, this game is simple and can be played with any number of players.

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Sudoku:

Sudoku is not for math wizards. This simple game is a number puzzle in which a player has to fill the empty box with a number from 1 to 9 using logic. A 9*9 grid is further divided into nine 3*3 boxes, with a few numbers already filled and others that need to be filled. For children, adults, and older people, this is enticing to all age groups.

Jigsaw Puzzle:

The jigsaw puzzle originated in the 18th century in England and is a popular choice. The game is helpful for seniors to advance their memory and problem-solving skills. You must remember the pictures printed on it and then fix the pieces to make the picture wholesome. The game helps increase the production of dopamine, which helps in concentration. One can play this game alone.

Memory Game:

There could be various versions of it. Sometimes called the Tray Game, it is simple but fun if there are more players. A player needs to put random items on the tray, show them to other players for a quick look, and then cover them with a cloth or paper. Other players remember the items on the tray and name them. It is a memory improvement game.

While mild forgetfulness in old age is not serious, anyone experiencing severe issues like losing track of the date and time of the year, misplacing things often, and not being able to find them back could be one of the many other symptoms of dementia, as per the National Institute on Ageing. In that case, one needs to seek advice from the doctors.