Board games can remain meaningful throughout the course of the disease. They provide opportunities to connect with loved ones, share enjoyable moments and engage preserved abilities in a supportive and familiar setting.
The key isn’t simply choosing a “simple” game. It’s choosing a game that matches the person’s interests, remaining abilities and stage of the disease.
Recent research by Prof. Philippe Robert, one of the leading experts in Alzheimer’s disease, together with studies by Dr. Rachel Wu on healthy ageing, shows that well-chosen board games can contribute to wellbeing, cognitive engagement and social connection in older adults. While games are not treatments for dementia, they can be valuable non-pharmacological activities that help preserve quality of life.
What is dementia?
Dementia is not a single disease. It is an umbrella term describing a group of conditions that progressively affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to carry out everyday activities.
Although memory difficulties are often the best-known symptom, dementia can also affect:
- Attention
- Language
- Planning and decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Orientation in time and space
- Behaviour and motivation
Different types of dementia affect people in different ways, and each person experiences the condition uniquely.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. According to Prof. Philippe Robert, Professor of Psychiatry at Université Côte d’Azur, Director of the Memory Resource and Research Centre (CMRR) at Nice University Hospital, and Director of the CoBTeK research team, Alzheimer’s should not be viewed solely as a memory disorder.
His work supports that the disease also affects motivation, emotions and social engagement, particularly through symptoms such as apathy, a loss of initiative, interest and goal-directed behaviour that is distinct from depression. This broader understanding has transformed how clinicians approach care, placing greater emphasis on quality of life and non-pharmacological interventions alongside medical treatment.
How dementia can affect play
As dementia progresses, some aspects of traditional board games may become more difficult. Players may experience challenges such as:
- Remembering rules
- Following multiple steps
- Recognizing symbols or colours
- Planning ahead
- Maintaining attention
- Manipulating small components
- Coping with time pressure
These challenges vary greatly between individuals and can change over time. Importantly, difficulty with a particular game does not mean the person has lost the ability to enjoy play. Often, it simply means the game, or the way it is presented, needs to be adapted.
What are the most suitable game mechanics?
There is no single “best” game for dementia. The right choice depends on the individual’s interests, abilities, and stage of the disease. Nevertheless, several characteristics can be recommended.
Familiar themes
Games based on everyday objects, familiar concepts, or shared memories are often easier to understand and more emotionally meaningful.
Progressive difficulty
Being able to start with a simpler version before increasing complexity helps players experience success and remain engaged.
Limited rules
Games with one clear objective and a small number of rules reduce cognitive load and make participation easier.
Large, easy-to-handle components
Cards with larger text, thicker pieces and strong visual contrast improve comfort and independence.
Cooperation and conversation
Games that encourage discussion, storytelling or teamwork can be particularly valuable because they prioritise interaction over performance.
As dementia progresses, the purpose of play often changes. Winning becomes less important than participation. A successful game session isn’t measured by the final score but rather by the quality of the lived experience.
Choosing the right game
When selecting a board game, ask yourself:
- Does this game match the person’s interests?
- Can the rules be understood or simplified?
- Is the challenge appropriate: not too easy, not too difficult?
- Are the components easy to see and manipulate?
- Does the game encourage positive interaction?
If the answer is yes, you’ve probably found a good place to start. Then, choose games based on the abilities that remain preserved, rather than those that have become difficult. This helps create more positive experiences.
For example, here is a selection of games that can be suitable. Do not hesitate to read our game guides for more insight.
- Dobble Giant
- Dixit, without the pressure of finding a single “correct” answer.
- Match Madness (Deblok), with progressive difficulty levels.
Games as non-pharmacological interventions
For many years, dementia care focused primarily on what people had lost. Prof. Philippe Robert’s work has helped shift this perspective toward preserving remaining abilities and supporting quality of life.
Current clinical recommendations increasingly encourage meaningful, structured activities that engage preserved functions while avoiding repeated experiences of failure. Board games fit well within this approach when they are adapted to the person’s abilities and interests.
Board games are increasingly recognized as non-pharmacological interventions. Unlike medication, these approaches seek to preserve remaining functions and support wellbeing through meaningful activities, social participation, and cognitive engagement.
Prof. Robert’s research has shown that adapted board games can:
- Promote emotional engagement
- Encourage social interaction
- Help reduce apathy
- Strengthen relationships between people living with dementia and their caregivers
Perhaps most importantly, games create opportunities to focus on the person, not the disease. Around the table, conversations shift away from appointments, symptoms and care routines toward shared experiences, laughter and memories.
Sources :
- Robert, P. et al. (Game in Lab research project). Cognitive, Adaptation, Behavior: study on adapted board games for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Robert, P. et al. (2020). Recommendations for the Nonpharmacological Treatment of Apathy in Brain Disorders. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
- Robert, P. et al. (2018). Is it time to revise the diagnostic criteria for apathy in brain disorders? European Psychiatry.
- Wu, R., Farias, I. et al. Improving Older Adults’ Cognitive Abilities, Motivation and Well-being via Learning New Board Games.
- Burns, A., & Robert, P. (2019). Dementia Care: International Perspectives.
