Entering a super-aged society...How Go Affects Cognitive Functioning of the Elderly
Mar 12, 2025
With the entry into a super-aged society, the interest in brain health of the elderly has increased. In particular, various educational programs that stimulate senior citizens' brain activities have recently attracted attention. Along with various board games, Go is also an item that attracts attention.
In this regard, the first Go program of the study participants, co-hosted by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, began on the 11th.
The subjects of the study were non-playing who did not know how to play Go, high school graduation or higher, and Korean men and women aged 50 to 74, and the study participants were randomly assigned to one of the test group (treatment group) and the control group (non-treatment group).
Twenty-four participants who were first assigned to the treatment group will participate in the Go program (24 weeks course) from March 11 after completing a specialist's questionnaire and clinical evaluation, neuropsychological evaluation, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests on cognitive function, and will undergo the same test again six months later.
Participants assigned to the non-treatment group live without learning or leaving Go for 24 weeks, and receive the same evaluation twice every six months. In the case of assignment to the non-treatment group, the educational program provided to the treatment group will be provided after the end of the study for those who have completed the post-evaluation. The second program is scheduled to begin in mid-May.
A study on the brain structure and functional characteristics of elderly professionals will also be conducted on 30 professional engineers as well as the general public.
Yang Jae-ho, Secretary-General of the Korea Foundation, said, `There have been several research papers published in Japan that Baduk is effective in preventing dementia, but there have been no authentic studies that have been properly clinical and scientifically proven"If this joint study with Seoul National University Hospital yields meaningful research results recognized by academia, it will be possible to help the mental health of the people and even people around the world through Go in the future."
In the United States, regular playing strategic games such as Go leads to improved memory, problem-solving ability, and response speed, especially in the elderly, and this effect slows cognitive decline. There are also studies showing that certain games such as Go can also contribute to emotional stability and mood improvement. In addition, it has been reported that social exchange through Go helps reduce stress and reduces the risk of depression, and has a positive effect on overall cognitive health.
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The subjects of the study were non-playing who did not know how to play Go, high school graduation or higher, and Korean men and women aged 50 to 74, and the study participants were randomly assigned to one of the test group (treatment group) and the control group (non-treatment group).
Twenty-four participants who were first assigned to the treatment group will participate in the Go program (24 weeks course) from March 11 after completing a specialist's questionnaire and clinical evaluation, neuropsychological evaluation, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests on cognitive function, and will undergo the same test again six months later.
Participants assigned to the non-treatment group live without learning or leaving Go for 24 weeks, and receive the same evaluation twice every six months. In the case of assignment to the non-treatment group, the educational program provided to the treatment group will be provided after the end of the study for those who have completed the post-evaluation. The second program is scheduled to begin in mid-May.
A study on the brain structure and functional characteristics of elderly professionals will also be conducted on 30 professional engineers as well as the general public.
Yang Jae-ho, Secretary-General of the Korea Foundation, said, `There have been several research papers published in Japan that Baduk is effective in preventing dementia, but there have been no authentic studies that have been properly clinical and scientifically proven"If this joint study with Seoul National University Hospital yields meaningful research results recognized by academia, it will be possible to help the mental health of the people and even people around the world through Go in the future."
In the United States, regular playing strategic games such as Go leads to improved memory, problem-solving ability, and response speed, especially in the elderly, and this effect slows cognitive decline. There are also studies showing that certain games such as Go can also contribute to emotional stability and mood improvement. In addition, it has been reported that social exchange through Go helps reduce stress and reduces the risk of depression, and has a positive effect on overall cognitive health.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
