Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to Alzheimer’s, showed significant improvement with certain complex thinking and memory skills after exergaming, according to a new study.
The results could encourage seniors, caregivers and health care providers to pursue or prescribe exergames (video games that also require physical exercise) in hopes of slowing the debilitating effects of those with MCI, sometimes a stage between normal brain aging and dementia.
The study was led by Cay Anderson-Hanley, associate professor of psychology.
It appears in the current issue of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
The Times Union featured the study on the front page.