It is no secret that golf can have a positive effect on physical health. But on the psyche? Golf promotes precisely those abilities that are lost in dementia. It is therefore worthwhile to regularly arrange a round of golf with friends and thus prevent the disease.
Golf as an entertaining group activity
According to current estimates, approximately one million people live with dementia, according to Novartis. The majority of them, about 700,000 people, suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Those affected steadily lose their emotional and cognitive abilities, but the brain also deteriorates at a social level. However, dementia can be prevented with the right preventive measures – and golf combines a large number of these measures. Let’s start with the social component: If you are not a professional golfer, you probably rarely or never play the sport alone. In a friendly get-together with friends, you can exchange news, look forward to the outcome of the game and share a hobby. The probability of becoming lonely and thus reducing your quality of life is visibly lower with regular meetings among friends. Even new acquaintances are relatively easy to make on the golf course. In any case, sport offers many topics of conversation.
Cognitive improvement
Of course, the brain is also stressed during golf. After all, every shot needs to be well thought out. In addition, the right choice of club and estimating the distance are important. You should also always keep an eye on your score. Without mental arithmetic, it is certainly not that easy. Even the chemical processes that take place in the brain can prevent memory diseases such as dementia. According to the health blog “Medicine – Fitness – Nutrition”, the heart rate is increased during golf. This ensures that blood flows into the brain and the nerve cell connections can thus be stimulated and improved. Golf is also a sport where good coordination is essential: the hand reacts to what the eye sees. After the stroke, the eye always evaluates what the hand has “accomplished”. This also improves dexterity.
Exercise and fresh air make you tired
The mere fact that you are in nature when playing golf in the sunshine has a positive effect on the psyche. Fresh air and constant exercise enriches the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. According to Genogyn, sleep deprivation is a frequent contributory cause of Alzheimer’s. Sport is incredibly important for mental health and should therefore be combined with other preventive measures. Crossword puzzles or brain teasers stimulate the grey cells. Classic table games such as blackjack, which involves simple mathematical equations that can be solved playfully by mental arithmetic, also contribute to this.
Getting together regularly with your friends for a game of golf can work wonders for body and mind. Cognitive abilities such as coordination skills are improved and the grey cells are used appropriately. Causes of dementia such as lack of sleep can be remedied by exercise in the fresh air and in the sun. The social aspect is of course not neglected when playing golf.
