Does Playing Mahjong Benefit Older Individuals? A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Behavioral Psychology

Background:

• Mahjong is a popular leisure activity in Asia, with cultural beliefs suggesting cognitive and psychological benefits for older adults.
• Empirical evidence supporting these benefits is limited and dispersed across literature.
• A comprehensive review is needed to synthesize existing research and identify knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize studies on the relationship between playing mahjong and cognitive, psychological, and functional abilities in older adults.
• To identify gaps in the current literature.
• To propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across thirteen Western and Asian databases.
• Fifty-three studies were included: 47 observational and 6 intervention studies.
• Data were extracted and synthesized to identify trends and findings.

Main Results:

• Observational studies indicated a positive association between mahjong playing experience and enhanced cognitive, psychological, and functional abilities.
• Intervention studies suggested that playing mahjong can improve general cognitive abilities, short-term memory, and reduce depressive symptoms.
• Most studies were correlational, limiting causal inference and understanding of underlying neural mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Mahjong playing shows potential benefits for cognitive, psychological, and functional well-being in older adults.
• Further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is needed to establish causality and explore neural mechanisms.
• Mahjong may be a valuable activity for promoting healthy aging.