New study: video games are brain food for your grandparents
Ever imagined your granny playing Civ Rev? Or maybe Valkyria Chronicles? See, even more research is being done on the various effects of video games, and while some studies focus on other ill effects game may have on the players, this one’s a bit positive: early data gathered from a new study suggests that certain strategy-heavy games may have progressive effects on the elderly. So dust off your copy of, oh I don’t know, FFTactics on the PSP. You might want to lend it to your grandparents for the holidays!
Even more research is being done on the various effects of video games. While some studies focus on other ill effects game may have on the players, this one’s a bit positive: early data gathered from a new study suggests that certain games may have progressive effects on the elderly.
The study was conducted on some 40 adults in their 60s to 70s. Now imagine them playing Rise of Nations. Yep, the findings suggest that strategy-heavy games help keep the elderly on their toes. Or in this case, keep their thinking caps on.
The tests lasted for a month, with one group having a total of 23 hours of gaming, while the other was kept as the control group without any “game training”. The grannies and grandpas who ended up in the gaming group were found to have scored higher on memory, multi-tasking, and cognitive tests administered after their training sessions.
As the researchers at the University of Illinois state, this study is still in its very early stages. However, as one Dr. Arthur Kramer says, the data they’ve gathered is “very promising.”
He also notes that, though their research is focused on mental health, another benefit of video games for the elderly is that it build social interactions too. A quote from Dr. Kramer reads:
Playing videogames with their grandkids would also be a great idea because we know that social interactions — along with physical exercise and intellectual challenge — also enhance the cognitive abilities of older adults.
So. Strategy and tactics, is it? Dust off that copy of Metal Gear Ac!d for the PSP, why don’t ya? Or maybe, while you’re spending Christmas with your grandparents, you might want to lend them your PSP for a round or two of, say, FFTactics: War of the Lions? Or maybe you want to let them have a crack at PixelJunk? Oh, imagine the possibilities!
By next year, your nanna just might pwn your sorry little butt on PixelJunk! Go, granny!
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Via Reuters
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