{"id":1431,"date":"2026-06-05T16:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T16:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=1431"},"modified":"2026-06-05T16:01:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T16:01:15","slug":"south-florida-friends-play-this-old-game-for-a-serious-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=1431","title":{"rendered":"South Florida friends play this old game for a serious reason"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

The ancient tile game of mahjong is making a major comeback in the United States, and for a group of local women, the surge in popularity is good news for their brains.<\/p>\n

Read more Dangerously overcrowded boat with 240 Haitians intercepted near Turks & Caicos<\/a><\/p>\n

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The game, which was developed in mid-19th century China, requires focus and strategic thinking, providing a perfect workout for the brain. A group of friends meets almost daily at Mimi Paper and Gifts in South Miami to play the game in hopes of delaying Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

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Denie Harris, who is part of the group, said she started playing a year ago and has \u201creally ramped it up recently.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit complicated at the beginning, but once you get your groove and you start getting an understanding, you just create a rhythm and you learn it,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For Harris, the mental challenge is deeply personal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom had Alzheimer\u2019s and I know that a game like mahjong really helps with memory and executive functioning, focus, and also the social aspect is very good for your brain,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

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A study published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease supports this practice, showing that playing mahjong could slow cognitive deterioration and alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults with dementia. Additionally, mahjong players tend to have improved cognitive function, better hand-eye coordination and experience a sense of being socially connected.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Charlotte Mather-Taylor, the director of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County, echoed the sentiment on the importance of mental activity.<\/p>\n

Read more Miami-Dade teachers union is in a fight for its life \u2013 via the mailbox<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not using your brain, then that\u2019s not very good because you\u2019re going to slow down,\u201d Mather-Taylor said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Her agency offers various programs like caregiver support and meal services, along with opportunities to exercise the mind. \u201cOur senior centers have all different kinds of activities that involve people socializing with other individuals and using their brains so that they concentrate. They\u2019re using their memory. Maybe in a game they\u2019re playing, they\u2019re using strategy,\u201d she said, noting that three senior centers offer mahjong as a key program.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Harris plays with the memory of her mom, Suzie Brawner, who died two years ago. Speaking through tears about her friends, Harris shared, \u201cThey had a front-row seat to the good and the bad,\u201d adding, \u201cWe\u2019re keeping our minds sharp together.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of her friends called Harris a spark for the group: \u201cShe leads the way, and she is a catalyst for all of us in so many ways, physically, emotionally and intellectually. \u2026 We\u2019re very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For more information about the programs available at the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County, click here.<\/p>\n

Read more Miami Beach shooting leaves man critically injured. Heavy traffic in North Beach<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This report was produced by Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A South Miami group plays mahjong at Mimi Paper and Gifts to sharpen memory, socialize, and potentially slow Alzheimer\u2019s disease through mental exercise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-fitness"],"yoast_head":"\nSouth Florida friends play this old game for a serious reason - Florida Moving Chronicle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=1431\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"South Florida friends play this old game for a serious reason - 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