Using Solitaire to Assess Cognitive Function

We all know solitaire as the classic card game perfect for passing time—whether waiting for a flight, taking a break at work, or just relaxing at home. But what if this simple game could do more than entertain? What if it could help measure brain health?

Our latest research suggests that solitaire may, indeed, be a powerful, natural, and engaging way to assess cognitive abilities.

Neuropsychological evaluations, the standard tests doctors and researchers use to measure memory, attention, or thinking skills, have limitations. For instance, uncomfortable testing formats or clinical settings, accessibility barriers for low-literacy individuals, and often require trained professionals to administer. Solitaire, on the other hand, is ubiquitous, easy to learn, and has maintained steady popularity in its digital form since 1990, when Microsoft integrated a version into its operating system to teach people how to use the mouse.

Our research builds on the work of Karsten Gielis and colleagues, who identified solitaire as a feasible platform for cognitive screening, including detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and highlighted key gameplay metrics that reflect cognitive differences.

Using gameplay data from Solitaired.com, we analyzed metrics like game completion time and average move time alongside self-reported cognitive status. Our initial pilot study found significant correlations between solitaire performance and mental differences, supporting the idea that solitaire could be an effective assessment tool.

We then expanded our research with a larger sample, using TestMyBrain (TMB) testlets from The Many Brains Project to measure mental acuity. Our findings show that Solitaired.com gameplay variables are strongly linked to working memory (Flicker Change Detection), processing speed (Choice Reaction Time), and visual short-term memory (Digit Symbol Matching).

Based on players’ interactions with solitaire, we can predict their cognitive performance on these validated assessments.

This research opens exciting possibilities for engaging, accessible, and scalable digital cognitive assessment. We’re continuing to explore how games like solitaire can complement traditional cognitive evaluations and provide insights into mental health.

Read the full technical report here.

Have thoughts or questions? Let us know—we’d love to hear from you!