Mahjong, a centuries-old Chinese tile game, is making a comeback, and some experts believe it could benefit your brain health as you age.
The game has recently seen a surge in popularity, evident on social media and in leagues and lessons popping up around the Chicago area.
Dr. Erika Hutz, a geriatrician with Endeavor Health, says there could be health benefits to playing the game.
“As a geriatrician, if someone asked me what is the one activity that I would recommend for healthy aging, Mahjong would be very high on my list,” she said.
Many of Hutz’s patients have played Mahjong for decades, including 89-year-old Marcia Myers.She’s now sharing her wisdom with a new generation of women, eager to learn the game.
“I find it fascinating,” said Myers, who’s been playing for 70 years. “It’s definitely a game of strategy because you have to know what you’re doing, and what your opponent is doing.”
Mahjong is a game of skill and chance that requires focus, visual and mental coordination.
Players mix the tiles, place them face down, and build them into two-layer blocks, taking turns throwing the dice and receiving tiles according to the number thrown, sorting and arranging their own tiles into spatial sequences.
One study finds it can slow cognitive decline and improve attention and memory in elderly people. It can also combat social isolation since it requires four players.
“Social isolation is as risky as smoking for older adults,” said Hutz. “And one of the antidotes is Mahjong, because Mahjong is creating that routine, it creates the community, it creates that connection. It creates this sense of purpose because there’s a reason for you to show up because the group is counting on you.”
Myers says the game keeps her brain sharp, and she’s not surprised it has transcended generations.
“Yes, as far as I’m concerned, it does,” said Myers. “And it can be a game of profit, but you can’t do that when you’re, what we call an amateur. You have to know what you’re doing. And you can’t have all the conversation that’s going on.”
For those looking to slow cognitive decline, Dr. Hutz says her three top pieces of advice are exercise, healthy diet, and mental stimulation from a social game like Mahjong.
