Super Mario and Co These 3-D video games could protect against dementia

Possible protection against dementia: 3-D video games increase senile gray matter

A recent study by Canadian researchers showed that playing certain 3-D video games can improve seniors' cognitive performance and increase gray matter in the brain. Possibly this could even prevent dementia.

Number of dementia patients continues to rise

Around 47 million people worldwide currently live with dementia, in Germany, according to the German Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly 1.6 million, most of whom have Alzheimer's disease. But the number keeps rising. Although more and more young people are affected, but still primarily seniors. According to a recent study, they may be able to reduce their risk of disease by using 3D video games more often.

Video games are more for younger people, you might say. But seniors should resort more often to computer games. This may possibly save them from dementia, as researchers have now found out. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com)

Video games on Alzheimer's prevention

An international research team recently reported that around one-third of dementia cases could be prevented by eliminating certain risk factors from childhood on.

The risk factors for dementia identified by the nine scientists are hearing loss in middle age, lack of education in adolescence, smoking, depression, physical inactivity, social isolation, hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

There may also be fewer dementias if seniors gamble more often. Because playing 3D video games can improve cognitive performance in older people and increase gray matter in certain areas of the brain.

Canadian researchers have now found out.

Positive effects on the brain

Earlier scientific research has shown that some computer gamers can learn much better and that video games are sometimes good for brain development. Obviously, seniors can also benefit from it.

"If you're between 55 and 75 years old, you should try to play 3D computer games like Super Mario 64 to fend off mild cognitive impairment and maybe even prevent Alzheimer's," states a statement from the University of Montreal, Canada..

This is the result of a study by researchers from the University of Montréal, the Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), the Memorial University in Newfoundland and the Hospital Research Center in Montreal.

The results were recently published in the journal "PLOS ONE".

Increase in gray matter in the hippocampus

Two studies from 2014 and 2017 showed that young adults in their twenties increased gray matter in the hippocampus when playing 3D computer games such as "Super Mario 64".

The hippocampus is the region of the brain that is primarily associated with spatial and episodic memory, a key factor in long-term cognitive health.

The gray matter it contains serves as a marker of neurological disorders that may occur over time, including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's.

Psychology Professor Gregory West of the University of Montreal and his colleagues wanted to see if the results could be reproduced among healthy seniors.

Play for half a year five times a week

The research team recruited 33 people, ages 55-75, randomly divided into three separate groups.

The first group participants were told to play Super Mario 64 for a total of 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Subjects in the second group should take piano lessons at the same frequency (for the first time in their lives) and the remaining study participants did not receive a specific assignment.

The experiment lasted six months and was carried out in the homes of the participants, where the consoles and pianos were built.

Short-term memory improved

The scientists evaluated the effect of the experiment at the beginning and end of the exercise with two different measurements: cognitive performance testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

According to the MRI test results, only the participants in the video game cohort showed an increase in the volume of gray matter in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Your short-term memory has also improved.

In the subjects of the piano group, among other things, an increase in the gray matter in the cerebellum was detectable.

In the comparison group, which did not learn anything new, the amount of gray matter decreased in all tested brain areas.

Degradation in the hippocampus is considered to be involved in dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.

Seniors should play Super Mario

But what mechanism triggers an increase in gray matter, especially in the hippocampus, after playing video games?

"3D video games attack the hippocampus to create a cognitive map or mental representation of the virtual environment that the brain explores," said West.

"Several studies indicate that stimulation of the hippocampus increases both functional activity and gray matter in this region."

Conversely, when the brain is not learning new things, the gray matter decays with age.

"The good news is that we can reverse these effects and increase volume by learning something new, and games like Super Mario 64, which activate the hippocampus, seem to have some potential in that regard," said West.

Co-author Sylvie Belleville added: "These findings can also be used to advance future research on Alzheimer's, as there is a link between the volume of the hippocampus and the risk of developing the disease." (Ad)