“We have the Rolls Royce of doctors here,” said a Marine Veteran and one of Dr. Paticio Reyes’ patients. “He was able to explain clearly what was going on...and provided me alternative methods [instead of] simply handing me a prescription like other have done.”
Checkmating Alzheimer’s: Birmingham VAMC uses ‘brain games’ to promote sharp minds in older Veterans
Chess, a classic “brain game” is a mentally stimulating activity that has been shown to promote brain health and may also decrease the risk of cognitive impairment.
Almost every Saturday morning, volunteers visit the Birmingham, Alabama VA Medical Center (VAMC), setting up chessboards and sharing their passion for the game with older Veterans. They also bring tactile chess sets for the blind – comprised of chess pieces of varying shades and colors – to accommodate low-vision Veterans.
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