Exercise-based video games may improve brain health, slow memory loss

Exercise-based video games may improve brain health, slow memory loss

Exergaming — video games that require physical movement — may be more than just fun. A new study published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy suggests that exergaming could help improve brain health and slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

MCI involves noticeable memory and thinking difficulties that go beyond normal aging but do not yet interfere with daily independence. Experts consider MCI a potential precursor to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, making early intervention critical.

Brain benefits of exergaming

The study involved 41 participants with mild neurocognitive disorder. They were randomly assigned to either an exergame-based training program with breathing exercises or a control group. The training included at least five sessions per week, each lasting 24 minutes.

Key findings included:

• Improved cognitive performance: Participants in the exergaming group showed better verbal recall and slower cognitive decline compared to controls.
• Positive brain changes: MRI scans revealed increases in gray matter volume in the hippocampus — a brain region linked to memory that typically shrinks in Alzheimer’s disease.
• Better white matter integrity: The anterior cingulate cortex and other brain regions showed protective effects, possibly helping preserve cognitive function.

Researchers noted that these brain changes were weakly but positively linked to cognitive improvements, suggesting that exergaming could influence brain plasticity.

Why it matters

Dr Amarish Dave, DO, a neurologist not involved in the study, explained that mild neurocognitive disorder represents a measurable decline in memory beyond normal aging. “It is often a precursor to dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease,” he said, adding that early interventions like exergaming could be valuable in protecting brain health.

Dr Vernon Williams, MD, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics, emphasized the significance of the findings. “Exergame-based training is safe, has high attendance adherence, and can significantly improve global cognition, complex attention, and executive functions,” he said.

Limitations and future research

Researchers caution that the study’s small sample size and short duration mean results should be interpreted carefully. More extensive research with larger groups is needed to confirm whether these brain changes directly cause cognitive improvements and whether they could delay dementia onset long-term.

Still, the findings add to growing evidence that physical activity combined with cognitive engagement — like exergaming — may be a powerful, enjoyable way to support brain health.

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