More than 200 fans of different nationalities will meet in Pamplona to participate in the I International Solidarity Chess Tournament. It is a meeting in favor of the research of the Alzheimer's disease, organized by the research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA ) in partnership with the association of relatives of Alzheimer's patients of Navarra (AFAN), the Spanish Chess Federation, the Obra Social "la Caixa" and the Fundación Caja Navarra, which will be held on July 2 and 3 at the sports center of the University of Navarra.

"financial aid a tu report, dale jaque mate al alzhéimer" is the motto of this tournament aimed at all audiences and with a family character, since the categories include players aged 5 years and older. According to Mariano de Pablos, manager of project and director of the tournament, "so far more than 200 amateurs of different nationalities, from 22 provinces and aged between 6 and 73 years old, have registered. It is the most important solidarity tournament organized in Europe and all for a good cause: the research of such a devastating disease for patients and families such as Alzheimer's disease. This initiative has received the award Solidarity of two leading companies in our Community, such as Volkswagen Navarra and Zabala Innovation Consulting. These are two awards chosen by their workers, to whom we convey our deepest gratitude".

Aurora Lozano, president of AFAN, explained that "our association fights to improve the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. We are aware that there are currently no drugs that cure the disease, so it is essential to support the research. We encourage researchers to continue their work because for us it is a source of hope".

Alfredo Ruiz, president of the Navarra Chess Federation, thanked CIMA for joining forces and making this event possible. "It is a pride to participate in an initiative of this category and with this spirit of solidarity in favor of the research of Alzheimer's disease".

Life habits and brain stimulation

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes the death of nerve cells in the brain. It is the leading cause of dementia and is suffered by around 31 million people in the world, 3.5 million of them in Europe and 400,000 in Spain. In Navarra there are more than 9,000 sufferers.

"Just as runners train their muscles to become faster, the brain needs to be exercised to reinforce the connections between neurons and improve its structure. It is very useful to exercise report from childhood and adolescence to have a resistant 'cushion' to compensate for the loss of neurons in old age," said Dr. Alberto Pérez Mediavilla, researcher of the Neurosciences Program at CIMA.

All those interested in registering and learning more about the event can access the website www.jaquematealalzheimer.com/. The deadline ends on Thursday 30 at 2 p.m.