Unlocking Memory: How Mah Jongg is Transforming My Cognitive Health Journey
- Carole Gilmore
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
When my father was diagnosed with dementia, I felt a deep urgency to protect my own memory skills. Watching someone you love struggle with such a debilitating disease changes how you think about brain health. It made me search for activities that could help both of us keep our minds sharp. One surprising discovery for me was Mah Jongg, a game that combines strategy, memory, and social interaction. Research supports that playing Mah Jongg can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline, making it a valuable tool in the fight against memory loss.
How Mah Jongg Supports Brain Health
Mah Jongg is more than just a social pastime. It challenges the brain in ways that promote cognitive resilience. The game requires players to remember tile patterns, plan moves ahead, and adapt strategies based on opponents’ actions. These mental demands engage several cognitive domains:
Memory skills: Players must recall which tiles have been played and anticipate what others might hold.
Attention and concentration: Staying focused on the game helps improve sustained attention.
Problem-solving: Deciding the best tile to discard or keep involves critical thinking.
Visual-spatial skills: Recognizing tile patterns and arranging them correctly exercises spatial reasoning.
A study published in the Journal of Aging and Health found that older adults who regularly played Mah Jongg showed better cognitive function compared to those who did not engage in such mentally stimulating activities (Tse et al., 2024). The researchers suggested that the combination of memory, strategy, and social interaction in Mah Jongg contributes to these benefits.
Personal Motivation: My Father’s Journey with Dementia
Seeing my father’s memory skills deteriorate is heartbreaking. As an Air Force veteran, engineer, and past politician, he once had a sharp mind that dementia is slowly taking away. My father's experience has motivated me to take proactive steps to protect my own brain health. I started playing Mah Jongg with family and friends, not only for enjoyment but also as a way to challenge my mind regularly.
The social aspect of Mah Jongg also helped me stay connected with others, which research shows is important for mental well-being. Isolation can worsen cognitive decline, so combining mental exercise with social interaction creates a powerful defense against dementia.
Scientific Evidence Supporting Mah Jongg and Cognitive Health
Several studies highlight the positive effects of mentally stimulating games like Mah Jongg on brain health:
A 2018 study in Frontiers in Psychology showed that engaging in complex games improved memory and executive function in older adults (Kuo et al., 2018).
Research from the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry states that encouraging a variety of cultural and physical activities in older adult communities can strengthen social connections, support cognitive health, and improve overall quality of life (Xia, 2025).
Mah Jongg, in particular, has been linked to improved working memory and processing speed, key areas affected by dementia.
These findings suggest that regular play can help maintain cognitive function and delay the onset of memory-related diseases.
How to Get Started with Mah Jongg for Brain Health
If you want to try Mah Jongg as a way to support your memory skills, here are some tips:
Learn the rules: Many online tutorials and local community centers offer beginner classes.
Play regularly: Aim for at least one session a week to keep your brain engaged.
Join a group: Playing with others adds social benefits and makes the game more enjoyable.
Challenge yourself: Try different variations of the game to keep it mentally stimulating.
Combine with other healthy habits: Exercise, a balanced diet, and good sleep also support brain health.
If you're interested in learning Mah Jongg, consider signing up for a lesson with one of the instructors at www.melanatedmahjongg.com. These experienced instructors offer a welcoming environment for beginners and can provide personalized guidance to enhance your skills. Whether you're looking to play for fun or to improve your memory, their lessons are a great starting point.
The Bigger Picture: Lifestyle and Memory Preservation
While Mah Jongg is a valuable tool, it works best as part of a broader approach to cognitive health. My father’s experience is teaching me that no single activity can prevent dementia, but combining mental challenges with physical activity and social connection offers the strongest protection. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are complex conditions influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Taking control where we can—through activities like Mah Jongg—gives us hope and a sense of agency.
Playing Mah Jongg is more than a game for me. It is a way to honor my father’s journey and invest in my own brain health. The evidence shows that this engaging activity supports memory skills and may reduce the risk of dementia. If you want to protect your mind, consider picking up the tiles and joining us at Melanated Mah Jongg for a game. Your brain will thank you!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for concerns about dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
References:
Kuo, C.-Y., Huang, Y.-M., & Yeh, Y.-Y. (2018). Let's play cards: Multi-component cognitive training with social engagement enhances executive control in older adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, Article 2482. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02482
Tse, Z. C. K., Cao, Y., Chau, B. K. H., Yeung, M. K., Leung, C., & Shum, D. H. K. (2024). Does playing Mahjong benefit older individuals? A scoping review. *Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease*, *11*(5), 1363-1377. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2024.102
Xia, Q.-f., Qin, G.-y., Yang, F.-l., & Li, Z. (2025). The effect of mahjong/bridge intellectual sports on the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged and older adults: An empirical analysis from the mixed cross-section data of CHARLS in China. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, Article 1552180. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1552180
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