Recent clinical research has shown that keeping an active mind can delay the effect of Alzheimer's disease. It is no secret that playing bingo in the UK is particularly popular with the older generations and the nature of the game, which involves concentration and adrenaline rushes no doubt keeps the mind active.

1 million people in Britain suffer from Alzheimer's disease and recent studies suggest that keeping the mind active can reduce the deterioration by 1 month for every year the mind is kept occupied. It is not just the concentration side that provides the assistance but also social interaction can be key to maintaining an active mind.

Bingo provides a very enjoyable and social part in the lives of many people in the UK and bingo clubs are widely regarded as ‘Playing an important role in the community'. The UK smoking ban has certainly made the local bingo club a much healthier place to visit and as the public get older and the gymnasiums promote physical exercise, maybe bingo clubs should start promoting mental exercise which becomes ever more important as age comes upon us.

Perhaps if bingo was available on the NHS the government could save on other, less effective treatments. After all, most of the costs of a proscription for 6 of everything would come back in taxes.....