A recent article published in the science journal Plos One, describes a study that illustrated how the brain functions of elderly people can improve after playing video games.
The study compared the cognitive functions of 32 elderly participants. All of the participants were right-handed, not concerned about their own memory functions, not using medications known to interfere with cognitive functions and had no diseases known to affect the central nervous system.
Each participant played the brain training computer game “Brain Age” or “Tetris” for a 15 minute period each day, at least five days a week, for a four week period. All of the participants stated they had played less than one hour of video games a week over the previous two year period. The gender, age and education level of people in the Brain Age group were similar to those in the Tetris group.
Measurement of their cognitive functions was done prior to the measured time playing video games and upon completion. The four categories measured were global cognitive status, executive functions, attention and processing speed.
The outcome of the research demonstrated that the effects of playing video games actually improved executive functions and processing speed. There was no measured effect on global cognitive status or attention. Both groups demonstrated improvement but the scores of those who played Brain Age were higher than those who had played Tetris in all measures of the executive function
The results of this study are significant because over time an elderly person may experience a decline in their cognitive functions such as memory, attention, executive functions and processing speed. A deterioration in such abilities can lead to problems in daily living. Playing video games could improve some cognitive functions in healthy elderly people.
The goal of the research was to develop methods that will enable the elderly to maintain and improve their cognitive functions.
Source
Press Release
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/240234.php
Research Article
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0029676