'Brain Training' video game potentially halves the chances of dementia

There’s a big digital industry around ‘Brain Training’ games. All you have to do is search the term on Google Play the App Store to find a vast  library of possible choices, many of which tout that they can help improve the brain, or even fight the likes of dementia or Alzheimer’s. This is a big problem considering it is never backed up by any scientific studies. Fortunately, that is about to change.

A specially designed game tested on 2,800 patients over ten years, found that the experience almost halved their chances of developing Alzheimer’s along with the other forms of dementia. Following the study, the rights to the game were purchased by an American company called Posit Science. They now sell a revamped version of the game called Double Decision on their website, BrainHQ

The game involves players having to identify a selection of items in their central and peripheral vision. The game increases in challenge as it progresses, consistently giving players a challenge and forcing it to process information. Much like the rest of the body, the brain needs to be regularly exercised in order to stay healthy.

This isn’t the first time that video games have been linked to dementia. Earlier in the year a study on the cognitive effects of gaming on seniors, found that playing video games helped improve several areas of the brain. Scientists believe that video games may even help reduce the chances of developing dementia, although more studies need to be conducted in the field.

While Double Decision isn’t a definitive cure for the neurological degenerative disease, it is a step in the right direction. With more research and funding, hopefully we can move towards a future where humans are more mentally active and clued up on just how important cognitive training and exercise is.