Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have once again come up with a sure formula for maintaining a healthy brain for our aging population.  In a study group of more than 14,000 people 65 and older, scientists have shown that people who play Bridge on a regular basis, show a reduced risk of developing dementia and other aging debilitating diseases i.e. Alzheimer.

The simple fact that these people retain a healthy and lucid brain for a longer period of time when playing bridge for an extended amount time, three to four hours a day, is no less than astonishing.  Playing bridge is not just a card game, it is a mental activity that requires critical thinking, strategy and social interaction.  In fact, it is the social interaction that intrigues these researchers the most because older people who engage in this activity show no appearance of brain damage and retards the appearance of dementia in people 90 years of age and older.
Duplicate bridge is by all standards, an a must activity for seniors to help maintain a healthy brain for the long term.  I have seen as much in my weekly bridge game where 30  to 40 seniors gather to play a duplicate bridge game that lasts 3 to 4 hours.  The group consists of players ranging in age from 55 to 95 years of age.  It is particularly important to note that the 85 and older play as well as the younger counterparts and are as sharp as the younger players in the group.  One particular gentleman who is 93 years old is as sharp as all the others and also drives his car an average of 12 miles each way, three times per week.
This is astonishing and gives credence to the University of California researchers who are immersed in studying the positive effects in people who engage in this social activity known as, Duplicate Bridge.

For more information on this social activity and where you can go to play and socialize with others, email John at:  johnpino15@hotmail.com or marplebridgeclub@gmail.com
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