It is a medically established fact that the best way to remain alert and save your brain as you get older is the use of it. If you want to exercise your brainpower and have fun and pleasure at the same time, play the bridge card game. It is popularly known as “ The game for a lifetime “ as the players can enjoy it throughout their entire life under all-physical conditions and disabilities.

In an article published in Parade magazine, Karen Walker an eminent writer and bridge expert stated that bridge is one of the best ways to put in to practice  "The use it or lose it " advice for maintaining mental sharpness in senior years.

Research has shown that regular bridge playing along with physical exercise and meditation improves reasoning skills and long and short-term memory. It also keeps you mentally alert and energized. Studies have shown that people who play bridge are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

In the words of Mike Lawrence, bridge writer and world champion “ of all the competitive activities, bridge is unique because it offers you the opportunity to improve by competing against better players. The amateur golfer cannot play a foursome with Nicholas, the average tennis player could never hope for a match against Navtravilova, but even the novice bridge players can sit down at a tournament and play against experts and world champions.

In a recent research and investigation conducted by the writer during interaction with bridge players at Rotating Bridge Club Monongalia Senior center Morgantown, WV, where all members aged 90 plus were honored and given Life time achievement awards, the researcher found them alert and in good health.

As shown in the picture above they are from L to R: Eleanor Milam, Oleta Martin, Al Cole, Cecelia Cole and Tenna Myles. Eleanor who recently celebrated her 95^th birthday is alert, in good health and a sharp player. Oleta, Al, Cecelia and Tenna are all 90 plus and are in excellent shape and mentally alert. Both Oleta and Cecelia (a cancer survivor) comfortably drive to the club by themselves.

A bridge column by Philip D. Alder, an internationally acclaimed bridge scholar, is published six days a week in the Dominion Post news paper of Morgantown, WV and is a great source of enjoyment for hundreds of bridge lovers in West Virginia. Since publication of this column few years back it has become an early morning treat for the readers and have generated great interest in the game and more seniors are joining the club.

A game of bridge involves communication and cooperation with your partner and interaction with your opponents and develops a social setting where you are a participant not just a spectator.

All you need for a bridge game is a deck of cards and three other people and you are in business. If you have a computer you need not to have cards or the people. You can log in on “ Bridgebase.com “ and play bridge with people around the world free of any cost.