Bingo could be just as good as chess at testing your brain cells

PEOPLE may scoff at those who play bingo but regular play boosts memory and IQ, scientists have discovered.

Those playing the popular pastime are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, researchers at Edinburgh University found, adding that bingo was as good as chess, cards or crosswords for improving thinking skills.

Over-70s who played games regularly had an IQ 1.4 points higher compared to those who did not. They also scored better in memory tests.

Dr Drew Altschul, of Edinburgh’s school of philosophy, psychology and language sciences, said: “These latest findings add to evidence that being more engaged in activities during the life course might be associated with better thinking skills in later life.

“For those in their 70s or beyond, another message seems to be that playing non-digital games may be a positive behaviour in reducing cognitive decline.”

Psychologists tested 1,000 people who were part of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study – individuals who were born in 1936 and took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947.

At 70 they were tested for memory, problem solving, thinking speed and general thinking ability, and the tests were repeated every three years.

They were asked at ages 70 and 76 how often they played games such as cards, chess, bingo or crosswords – and the team took into account the results of an intelligence test they took when they were 11. They also considered lifestyle factors, such as education, socioeconomic status and activity levels.

People who increased game-playing in later years were found to have experienced less decline in thinking skills in their 70s.

Prof Ian Deary, of the university’s centre for cognitive ageing and cognitive epidemiology, said: “We are narrowing down the activities that might help to keep people sharp in older age. It would be good to find out if some games are more potent than others.”

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: “Some people’s thinking skills can decline as we age; this is further evidence it doesn’t have to be inevitable.”

The study was published in The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences.