Commentary
The journal in which this paper was published, Frontiers of Neurology, is an open access journal, but it is an authoritative and well-known journal.
The impact factor (a number that indicates the importance of a journal) at the time of publication was 3.5, making it an important journal with high scientific credibility.
This paper is excellent in that it is an intervention study and assesses brain function over time by comparing people who played mahjong with those who did not (controls).
What is Executive Function??
Executive function is the advanced cognitive function for completing tasks and/or overcoming difficulties involving prefrontal cortex-mediated working memory and reflection, planning, organization, and management. (from this paper)
If this function is impaired, we will not be able to plan and do things in order.
This is a core function of the so-called "higher brain functions".
Trail Making Test (TMT)
This is a very common method of testing for executive function disorders.
This is a test in which you have to trace a piece of paper with numbers and alphabets on it in one stroke without crossing the lines.
The shorter the time taken from start to finish, the better the executive function.
The longer it takes, the worse the executive functioning is.
MoCA-B
The MoCA is a cognitive function test, similar to the MMSE.
The B in MoCA B stands for Beijin, which is the Mandarin version.
The Japanese version is called MoCA J.
Abstract of Paper
We gathered 56 elderly people over the age of 65 and let 28 of them to play mahjong three days a week for one hour at a time for 12 weeks.
The remaining 28 patients were tested only (control).
The mahjong group (black circles) showed an increase in the MoCA (top left of the figure) score and a clear decrease in the time spent on TMT (top right of the figure).
This paper saids
「This finding may reflect the fact that playing mahjong is mentally and intellectually challenging. In order to win the game, participants need to concentrate as well as judge and predict the next moves of others in order to select the best strategies to win. Eye and hand movements are also required to play mahjong. All these activities may have mobilized cognitive reserves in the brain and thus enhanced executive function」.
Summary
The results of this study indicate that mahjong may have restored executive function once it was lost.
In the future, mahjong may be used to rehabilitate people with impaired executive functions due to head trauma.
capture
Similar studies have been done in Japan, where TMT in the elderly has been reduced in time with the intervention of mahjong.
Brain function has been shown to improve with new experiences, even in the elderly.
Try mahjong as a new hobby for your old age！！
