KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) organised the World Alzheimer’s Month 2026: A Brain Health & Mahjong Day programme, aimed at stimulating brain function and raising public awareness of cognitive health.
In a statement today, PHKL said the programme, held last Saturday, marked the hospital’s initiative as the first to incorporate mahjong into a clinical brain health programme through a combination of expert medical discussions, digital cognitive assessments and interactive social activities.
“The programme brought together leading medical experts, healthcare technology pioneers and community partners to address cognitive decline, early detection and holistic dementia care,” it said.
PHKL consultant geriatrician Dr Lee Yoong Wah said dementia care involved more than just addressing memory problems, as it required early detection and holistic support, including adapting the home environment to help patients maintain their independence.
“Early screening is important to differentiate normal changes associated with ageing from worrying cognitive decline,” she said.
Meanwhile, PHKL rehabilitation medicine physician Dr Lee Hwee Ming said core rehabilitation could help patients overcome mobility issues and spatial awareness difficulties while maintaining their quality of life.
On the role of technology in early intervention, Gray Matter Solutions co-founder and chief executive officer Adnan Azam Mohammed said the integration of modern digital tools could transform public perceptions towards brain health screening.
“Modern digital tools make cognitive assessments more accessible and less intimidating for the public as they are more user-friendly and interactive,” he said.
PHKL said its collaboration with Gray Matter Solutions and Jom Mahjong Social Club had transformed conventional medical activities into the Mahjong Social Play & Brain Health Challenge, featuring 25 interactive gaming tables designed to stimulate participants’ neurocognitive functions
It added that mahjong was increasingly recognised by cognitive health professionals as an ideal mental exercise, particularly among older adults, as the game involved strategy, pattern recognition and working memory.
Members of the public interested in monitoring their cognitive wellbeing can obtain the PHKL Memory Screening Package by contacting the PHKL Marketing Department at 011-5122 4125 or visiting the hospital’s website.
-- BERNAMA