Video Games Show Potential in Improving Key Aspects of Memory in Older Adults

A study in Behavioural Brain Research supported by the U.S. National Institute on Aging determined that video games could potentially enhance cognitive health in older adults. The researchers enlisted persons 60 to 80 years old to test the hypothesis that the unique and three-dimensional environment of Super Mario and the two-dimensional setting of Angry Birds would confer more cognitive benefits upon individuals than those conferred by a familiar two-dimensional game, like Solitaire. Participants in each of these three video game environments played 30 to 45 minutes each day for four weeks, with memory tests conducted during and four weeks after the conclusion of daily gameplay. Memory performance did not differ across groups prior to gameplay, but two weeks of Angry Birds or Super Mario led to improved recognition memory. Memory kept improving after an additional two weeks for the Super Mario cohort compared to the Solitaire players, which continued after daily gameplay ended. No additional memory improvements were observed in Angry Birds players. The implication is that both novel experiences and exposure to rich three-dimensional environments may interact to improve cognition, while video game interventions also may benefit individuals at any age — especially for those who are homebound.