The 2018 FIFA World Cup thrilled fans worldwide over four weeks of intense competition. While upsets saw favorites like Germany, Spain, and Brazil exit early, teams like Croatia and Belgium reached the final four. Beyond uniting fans, watching football—especially historic matches—offers proven cognitive benefits for seniors, particularly those with dementia.
Professor Alistair Burns, a leading psychiatrist specializing in dementia at the University of Manchester, highlights how revisiting past games activates memories and sustains brain function. He suggests focusing on classics, like France's 1998 triumph, over recent events for maximum impact. "Although fans don't feel it especially this week, football can be very good for the nerves. A beautiful match brings benefits to the body as well as to the mind. Like exercise, there is a positive connection between watching great games and brain activity. For older people and more specifically those with dementia, re-watching matches can bring back memories, reminisce about people from the past and keep their brains running," says Professor Burns.
This stems from emotional memory—tied to intense feelings like joy or tension—which differs from factual recall and enhances overall brain activity. Tony Jameson-Allen, co-founder of the Sporting Memories Foundation, echoes this view. "Sport unites communities and generations, it enchants and awakens powerful emotions. Every week, we observe the positive impact memories of great sporting moments have on the mental and physical health of our members, many of whom suffer from dementia. […] These moments of anthology rekindle beautiful and positive memories that can be used to unite generations in the face of 3 major problems affecting seniors: dementia, depression and loneliness," he told Metro. Such shared memories not only foster pride but also support long-term mental well-being.
