Playing specially designed video games might do more than entertain older adults with memory problems. A new study suggests these games could potentially help protect brain regions vulnerable to early Alzheimer’s disease, though the research is still exploratory.
Scientists found that people with mild cognitive impairment who played exergames (video games that combine physical movement with thinking tasks) showed increases in brain volume in areas crucial for memory. Some of these brain changes were also weakly linked with better performance on memory tests.
How Doctors Turned Games Into Medicine
Researchers studied 30 older adults with an average age of 72 who had mild neurocognitive disorder, the medical term for mild cognitive impairment. Most participants (87%) had laboratory evidence pointing to the cause of their memory problems, with 62% showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Half the group received their usual medical care. The other half also used a gaming system called Brain-IT at home. Players stood on a pressure-sensitive platform and controlled games by moving their bodies while solving puzzles. The system also included breathing exercises designed to help with stress and focus.
Each participant was instructed to train at least five times a week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting at least 24 minutes. On average, participants completed about 71 sessions, or nearly six per week. The games adjusted automatically depending on each person’s performance, creating a personalized workout for both body and brain.
Brain Scans Show Volume Increases in Memory-Linked Regions
After three months, brain scans revealed differences between the groups. People who used the gaming system showed increases in gray matter volume in several brain regions, including the hippocampus (the brain’s main memory center), thalamus, and anterior cingulate cortex.
The hippocampus findings are especially notable. In Alzheimer’s disease, this region typically shrinks as memory declines. Seeing increases in hippocampal volume runs counter to what doctors usually expect.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, also found signals of a protective effect on the brain’s white matter, the internal wiring that helps different regions communicate. Advanced imaging showed higher integrity measures in the intervention group compared to controls, suggesting preserved connectivity.
Importantly, increases in hippocampal and thalamic volume were weakly correlated with better scores on delayed memory tasks. The authors stress these were modest links, not proof that every brain change led to a memory gain.
More Engaging Than Exercise Alone
Previous research has shown that physical exercise benefits brain health. However, this study suggests that combining movement with thinking challenges and technology may offer additional benefits.
The training delivered multiple forms of stimulation — visual, auditory, and tactile feedback — that required players to coordinate their movements while solving problems. This multisensory approach may help the brain form new connections more effectively than traditional exercise programs.
Participants stuck with the program. Across 12 weeks, they logged nearly 1,700 minutes of training, showing they found the games engaging rather than tedious.
The study does have limitations. With only 30 people, the results need confirmation in larger trials. The three-month timeframe doesn’t show whether benefits last long-term or require ongoing training. The group was predominantly male, and the small sample size means that the results may not be applicable to everyone.
Researchers also couldn’t tease apart which component was most helpful: the physical activity, the mental challenges, the breathing exercises, or the combination.
A Promising Step Forward
Despite these limitations, the findings are encouraging. Hippocampal shrinkage has long been considered an inevitable part of Alzheimer’s progression. Finding an intervention that may help counteract this shrinkage represents a novel approach to treating memory problems.
The technology-based approach also has practical advantages. Unlike many medical treatments, gaming can happen at home, making it potentially more accessible. The system automatically adjusts difficulty and tracks progress, allowing it to be standardized while still tailored to individuals.
Right now, treatments for mild cognitive impairment mainly focus on slowing decline rather than improving function. This exploratory research suggests that with the right approach, partial recovery of memory and brain structure might be possible.
Source : https://studyfinds.org/video-games-tackle-early-alzheimers-signs/
