Golf and Brain Health: A New Partnership with Big Potential
We’re pleased to announce a new partnership between Scottish Brain Sciences and Golf in Society… a pioneering social enterprise community interest company using the power of golf to improve health, wellbeing, and community connections for older people. By combining our expertise in brain health research with their proven approach to keeping people active and engaged through golf, we aim to help more people live well for longer.
Why golf?
Golf in Society runs weekly sessions for people living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, frailty, loneliness, and depression. These sessions are friendly, welcoming, and all about enjoying the game, whether you’ve been playing for years or are picking up a club for the first time. Right now, they run sessions at 31 clubs across the UK – including six in Scotland – and growing all the time.
Why brain health?
At Scottish Brain Sciences, we focus on early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. Taking part in research with us can mean early brain health checks, joining studies, and accessing clinical trials of new medicines that aim to prevent or slow disease.
Why this partnership matters
Together, we’ll be bringing more conversations about brain health to golf courses across Scotland and the UK, showing how staying active and social can be a game-changer. Golf is a natural fit: it keeps you moving, thinking, and connecting with others. All things that are good for your brain.
Professor Craig Ritchie, our CEO and Founder, is enthusiastic about the partnership: “The future of brain health lies in communities, places where people come together, stay active, and look out for each other. Golf in Society has shown just how powerful these settings can be. By joining forces, we can help more people stay healthier for longer, get earlier diagnosis, and, above all, live well.”
Dr Andrew Murray, Medical Adviser with The R&A (the leading authority in the world of golf), agrees: “Regular physical activity through golf is one of the best things you can do for your health – and it’s great for the brain. This partnership offers the perfect mix of improving lives and accessing research to see what more can be done.”
And from Anthony Blackburn, Founder of Golf in Society: “This is a really important partnership for us. The more evidence we gather about golf’s impact on brain health, the closer we get to seeing it prescribed as part of everyday healthcare. We also see huge benefits for carers, giving them a much-needed break while their loved ones enjoy time on the course.”
What’s next
We’ll be working together on events and outreach opportunities where golfers and their families can:
- Learn more about brain health
- Take part in research
- Access trusted information and support
This is just the start, and we can’t wait to share more as the partnership grows…
You can read the full press release here.
And to learn more about Golf in Society and access their support programmes, visit www.golfinsociety.com.
