The gift of health

Studies show both giving and receiving presents can boost our mental and physical wellbeing – and what you choose to wrap can bring added bonuses, discovers James Moore

- James Moore

Real winners

Traditional board games are a good bet for giving brains a boost. A US study revealed playing them could reduce the chances of getting dementia, while another from the University of Edinburgh found unused “survival genes” in brain cells are activated thanks to stimulation provided by puzzles such as Sudoku.

It has also been shown that the brain activity required for card games such as bridge will spark your grey matter into pepping up levels of T-cells in the blood, which are responsible for boosting your immune system.

And while parents worry about youngsters spending too much time on computers, you can console yourself with the news that some screen time can be good for you.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow linked gaming to improved communication and problem-solving skills. Other studies suggest they can increase creativity and even distract from pain, while Canadian scientists discovered that playing 10 hours of games over a month could actually improve vision in young players because it challenges the eye muscles to move and focus quickly.