4/10/2023 0 Comments New york times tiles highest scoreSo further research is needed to investigate these findings.ĭoing puzzles may also be a way for older people to keep their mental function sharp. It’s possible that instead of the activities lowering a person’s risk, a person with mild cognitive impairment simply may not be able to participate in these activities as often. That said, study authors point out that the study is observational, so it’s not possible to determine a cause-and-effect relationship. In addition, the more activities people engaged in during later life, the less likely they were to develop MCI. Researchers found that engaging in social activities, such as going to the movies or going out with friends, or playing games in both middle age and later life, were associated with a 20 percent lower risk of developing MCI. Mentally stimulating activities like using a computer, playing games, crafting, and participating in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delay of age-related memory loss called mild cognitive impairment (MCI, often a precursor to dementia, including Alzheimer’s), and the timing and number of these activities may also be important, according to a study published in August 6, 2019, in Neurology. While long-term research is still needed to determine whether specific games can play a role in keeping the brain healthy - and how or if timing is a factor - preliminary studies appear to show a link between game playing and lower risk or delay of at least one type of age-related memory loss. RELATED: How 1 African American Woman With Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Is Educating Others About the Risk What Science Has Shown About Game Playing and Cognition “Based on what we know about how the brain works, learning new things with repeated practice, or challenging the brain in new ways, can strengthen connections between the neurons, or brain cells,” adds Mueller. “That said, just like playing regular games, it is a vehicle for learning something new or challenging your brain,” says Dr. Mueller, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “Few studies can show that getting better at a brain game transfers to everyday activities of daily living,” says Kimberly D. Scientists remain skeptical about how effective these brain-training games really are in improving brain health. Makers of these popular brain-training games claim that they can help ward off cognitive decline by keeping your brain sharp. In 2018, according to the market research firm SharpBrains, people spent $1.9 billion on digital brain health and neurotechnology apps. “Brain training games” - or computerized cognitive training consisting of programs of games designed specifically to exercise memory, attention, speed, flexibility, and problem-solving - have become increasingly popular in recent years. RELATED: How to Keep Your Brain Healthy: A Conversation With Sanjay Gupta, MD Can ‘Brain Training’ Games Improve Brain Health? “They increase the opportunity to have more social interaction,” Sano says, “and this, more than the game itself, may contribute to quality of life and possibly less cognitive decline.” Sano believes you can potentially benefit in some ways from playing certain games. “Frank evidence for true reduction in cognitive decline is very minimal,” says Mary Sano, PhD, the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and a professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. That said, there are potential cognitive benefits for those who play games, but the actual game you choose may be of little importance in the bigger picture. Most experts seem to agree that the games themselves can’t really do much to change the biology of the disease or prevent the damaging effects Alzheimer’s has on the brain. But the jury is still out on whether playing “Alzheimer’s games” can really have any impact on slowing cognitive decline. One activity that might help keep the brain healthy is playing brain or memory games - or even playing games in general. RELATED: FDA Okays New Alzheimer’s Drug, Despite Controversy What Can Game Playing Do for the Brain? There is growing evidence of a link between regular participation in mental, cognitive, or intellectual activities and a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Scientists and drug companies are investigating and developing new therapies to slow the disease, treat symptoms, and ultimately find a cure.Īt the same time, researchers are looking at lifestyle factors to see if certain habits or activities can help keep the brain healthy and slow the progression of various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, and researchers continue to work toward treatments that can effectively stop the progression of the disease.
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