Playing board games, cognitive decline and dementia: a French population-based cohort study

TLDR

To investigate whether regular board game playing reduces the risk of dementia over 20 years in a French population. The study followed 3,675 non‑demented adults in the Paquid cohort in Bordeaux over 20 years, recording board‑game participation and dementia incidence. During 20 years, 840 participants developed dementia, and after adjusting for age, gender, education and other confounders, board‑game players had a 15 % lower risk (HR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.74–0.99); this association disappeared after further adjustment for baseline MMSE and depression, though players still showed less cognitive decline and fewer depression episodes, suggesting a potential mediating effect.

Abstract

To study the relationship between board game playing and risk of subsequent dementia in the Paquid cohort.A prospective population-based study.In the Bordeaux area in South Western France.3675 non-demented participants at baseline.The risk of dementia during the 20 years of follow-up.Among 3675 non-demented participants at baseline, 32.2% reported regular board game playing. Eight-hundred and forty participants developed dementia during the 20 years of follow-up. The risk of dementia was 15% lower in board game players than in non-players (HR=0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.99; p=0.04) after adjustment on age, gender, education and other confounders. The statistical significance disappeared after supplementary adjustment on baseline mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and depression (HR=0.96, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.12; p=0.61). However, board game players had less decline in their MMSE score during the follow-up of the cohort (β=0.011, p=0.03) and less incident depression than non-players (HR=0.84; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98; p<0.03).A possible beneficial effect of board game playing on the risk of dementia could be mediated by less cognitive decline and less depression in elderly board game players.