GAMING HELPS CONTROL DEMENTIA IN OLDER ADULTS; RESEARCH

A study published in the Behavioural Brain Research journal has disclosed a new solution against dementia, one that is seemingly not tough to execute. According to the research, playing video games effectively helps curb the disorder in older adults.

The research, “Enriching hippocampal memory function in older adults through video games” discusses how playing video games for 30 minutes is a practical solution for old individuals suffering from dementia. It reportedly improves the memory of those inflicted by an age-related decline due to the disorder.

Healthy older adults between 60 to 80 years were chosen for the study to play 3D games, unveiling that playing games for up to 4 weeks enhance the memory of those with dementia. Moreover, the research also found that the improvements brought by gaming could last up to four weeks without needing to play again.

As per the study, the virtual worlds likely serve as a proxy that helps stimulate memory due to a change in environment, providing mental nourishment in older adults. Titles featuring more realistic graphics are able to reduce the effects of Dementia from deepening in older adults with the disorder.

Exploring the vast, beautiful worlds in games for 30 minutes per day helps to fight the effects of Dementia slowly and could highly decrease its impending risks. Since visuals in video games have advanced nearly to the level of real life, exploring different virtual landscapes could prove to be an effective solution against the disorder.

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