"The Best Way to Find Yourself is in the Service of Others" ~ Gandhi
About Us
Who We Are and What We Do
Who We Are and What We Do
Who We Are and What We Do
Checkmate Dementia is a non-profit organization that aims to bring awareness to dementia and help the elderly in their fight against this disease. We do this by teaching and playing chess at elderly homes. We also hold chess tournaments, where the proceeds go towards elderly homes, dementia care facilities, and dementia research. Contact us to see what you can do to bring about positive change.
Bringing Awareness
Who We Are and What We Do
Who We Are and What We Do
Every year 10 million new dementia cases are reported, and on average, 61,000 people die. Currently, 50 million people in the world have dementia, and by 2050, it is estimated to triple! Dementia is severe; however, not much attention is being paid to how to prevent it. This is why Checkmate Dementia is bringing awareness to dementia through social media and the news.
Helping in their Fight
Who We Are and What We Do
Helping in their Fight
The elderly are amongst the most vulnerable communities, and dementia is the leading cause. Our goal is to help our elderly prevent dementia by teaching and playing chess, ultimately saving their lives.
Bringing Change through Virtual and In-Person Models
In-Person Model
In-Person Model
In-Person Model
In spite of the ongoing pandemic, Checkmate Dementia is still offering its In-Person Model with Masks and Plexiglass! Contact us if you have any questions!
Virtual Model
In-Person Model
In-Person Model
No Pandemic can stop us from making a difference! Checkmate Dementia is offering a virtual model of teaching.
Research Articles
“Checkmate the Onset of Dementia”: Prescribing Chess to Elderly People as a Primary Prevention of Dementia
By: Ivan Fernandez Vega
My Vision
Srikar Potharaju
Founder, Executive Director
The world is constantly changing, and it demands that everyone understands reality and the creation of personal global consciousness. Discerning a need for change in my awareness, my interest in chess and neuroscience led me to become aware of dementia. Discerning the empathic relationship betwee
Srikar Potharaju
Founder, Executive Director
The world is constantly changing, and it demands that everyone understands reality and the creation of personal global consciousness. Discerning a need for change in my awareness, my interest in chess and neuroscience led me to become aware of dementia. Discerning the empathic relationship between chess and cognition, I realized that my chess expertise could transform the means to prevent dementia in our elderly. Recent studies from the NCBI indicate that chess and other cognitive-enhancing activities can diminish the probability of diagnosis; however, the implementation of such programs is yet to be conclusive.
According to the WHO, 50 million are currently diagnosed with dementia, and that number is estimated to triple by 2050. This disease’s ubiquity is why it is imperative to create international awareness, specifically on how it affects people today and how we can mitigate its effects. In lieu of this, I established a non-profit organization- Checkmate Dementia {501(c)3} - with the focus of teaching pre-diagnosed elderly citizens to play chess.
My passion for improving lives was ignited when I experienced, firsthand, how my grandfather's life deteriorated before me. As a chess player, I knew that playing chess acts as a safeguard against dementia; however, not everyone indulges in chess, so I went to introduce it, and the effects of dementia, to the world. My grandfather’s challenges motivated me to act against dementia by bringing awareness to its prevalence. He was my inspiration and why I prepare, every day, to become a more informed global citizen.