Table tennis: Boosting brain health and potential benefits for Parkinson’s disease
Speaker: Dr. Uroš Marušič (Science and Research Centre Koper and Alma Mater Europaea University)
Time and location: Monday, October 14th, 2024, 19:00, Modra dvorana
In this lecture I will present the benefits of table tennis, focusing in particular on studies that have measured brain activity during the game. Table tennis, a fast-paced and responsive sport, stimulates key areas of the brain involved in motor control, visual anticipation and decision making. Research has shown that playing table tennis promotes sensorimotor integration, improves visuomotor coordination and activates brain regions such as the parieto-occipital cortex, which is responsible for movement planning and spatial awareness.
Because of these cognitive and physical benefits, table tennis is particularly important for people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Table tennis has been shown to improve reaction time, mental acuity and attention – all of which are important factors in managing Parkinson’s symptoms. Table tennis is a promising approach to slowing cognitive decline and improving motor function in Parkinson’s patients because it engages the brain and body in a dynamic, full-body activity.