In a thought-provoking study unveiled recently, it was found that engaging in video gaming for over five hours a week could make participants perform cognitively like they were 13.7 years younger than their actual age. Conducted by a collaborative effort between Western University and the Science and Industry Museum, this research sheds light on the brain's adaptability through gaming. Importantly, this study engaged over 2,000 diverse participants, aiming to understand the nuanced impacts of gaming and physical activity on both cognitive performance and mental health.

The Study and Its Findings

More than 2,000 participants from across the globe participated in the study as part of the larger Brain and Body study. They were tasked with completing a lifestyle survey and then engaging in interactive online brain games provided by Creyos, which measured various aspects of cognition like memory, attention, reasoning, and verbal abilities. The study, which was led by Adrian Owen, PhD, a renowned professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, discovered that frequent gamers showed cognitive performance levels typical of individuals 13.7 years their juniors, while those playing less than five hours weekly exhibited cognitive improvements equivalent to a 5.2-year youth.

Mental Health versus Cognitive Health

Interestingly, while video gaming improved cognitive skills, it had no discernible impact on mental health. Conversely, participants who adhered to the World Health Organization’s guideline of at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly were reported to have better mental well-being, though their cognitive performance remained unaffected. Regular physical activity was associated with a 12% higher likelihood of being free from depression symptoms and a 9% higher probability of avoiding anxiety symptoms.

Brain-Body Connection

This study affords deeper insights into the connection between brain and body functionalities. Despite common examples like stress-induced muscle tension or calmness achieved through controlled breathing, our understanding of these interactions remains relatively limited. Survey responses provided the Western team with invaluable data, allowing them to align lifestyle choices with healthier cognitive aging practices. Owen emphasized, “The results of this study could help all of us choose activities that promote healthy cognitive aging.”

Future Prospects

For those interested in exploring these findings further, Owen will present the details at the Science and Industry Museum on October 19 during the Manchester Science Festival. This event, spanning from October 18 to 27, will also offer a unique opportunity for visitors to engage in a pilot study that examines the short-term cognitive benefits of exercise and gaming, complementing the long-term data gleaned from the original survey.

This insightful research has been documented in a preprint format and is currently undergoing peer review.

You can access more details from the original publication from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry here.