How Pickleball Benefits Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia

Continually Challenges The Brain

Pickleball continually challenges the brain, providing stimulation of a number of different aspects of cognition and movement. The sport requires patients to coordinate their movements to hit the ball and score points, and they must also use muscle control to keep their balance and move their arms while playing. In addition to the physical aspects of the game, players are also challenged mentally. To succeed in pickleball, they have to make fast decisions about where they wish to direct the ball to earn the most points, and they also have to anticipate their opponent's likely movements and play defensively. Players on doubles teams also have to coordinate strategies with their team members and make decisions together. Overall, pickleball provides many challenges for the brain that may help patients preserve cognitive function for longer, possibly reducing the amount of medication needed or delaying the need for medication due to Alzheimer's disease or dementia.