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According to AARP: Puzzle Action Games Can Have Anti-Aging Benefits! Have you ever tried to solve a computer problem? ...You're not just working through computer problems; you are also exercising your mind. Yes, the computer has proven to be an extraordinarily versatile tool to stimulate the mind. You've all heard of "Use it or lose it." ...The latest research shows that the brain is like a muscle. Brain cells respond to stimulation. So the more you can stimulate the brain, the better. Age-related declines in mental ability affect 100% of the population. You can't escape, but you can make a difference. And your computer can be your steadfast assistant. A 2003 study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that keeping your brain active may protect against future memory loss. The study adds to the scientific evidence that suggests that mentally challenging activities may offer protection against Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The study indicates that any mentally challenging activity might spur the brain to establish new connections or perhaps to grow new brain cells. This extra brainpower may compensate for any loss of brain cells because of aging and/or disease. Other recent research reaches similar conclusions. Mayo Clinic Web site lists ten steps to keeping a healthy mind. Step #1 is "Exercise Your Mind". While much of the current advice recommends crossword puzzles and reading to keep the mind active, those of us who use a computer know that there is no better "Brain push-up" than trying to perform a computer task... All of these computer activities can also be fun. The most fun, however, may be playing games. Research shows that game playing is especially mind invigorating. Strategy, pattern recognition, puzzles, and matching games are perfect for getting your brain going. The computer is the ideal mechanism for playing games... ...Whatever you do to stimulate your mind, remember to have some fun. Be sure to play a game everyday...You add a little fun and pleasure to your life. You get a renewed sense of achievement, and you keep your brain young at the same time.
From "Anti-Aging
Computer Tips" by Sandy Berger for AARP.
Here are more articles on the effect of playing games on improving brain function: Can Brain Stimulating Games Help Slow Down Aging? Playing Games Helpful To Elderly Just As To Young Kids Video gaming gets serious: New uses from brain research to military training Older gamers take up virtual pastimes
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