#571 The Benefits of Video Games for Older Adults

The Benefits of Video Games for Older Adults The Not Old Better Show, Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I'm Paul Vogelzang and today's show is brought to you by NORD VPN and Inside Tracker.   I think you'll enjoy today's show as we're talking about gaming, video games specifically.  When you think of a "gamer," you probably don't think of a 65-year-old man or woman spending their afternoon on the Wii, or PS 2, or X Box, or Nintendo Switch. But think again — an estimated 21% of people who play video games are over the age of 50. What's more, it turns out that some of those older "gamers" are reaping very significant health benefits as a result. Here are just some of the social, cognitive, and physical benefits that video games and virtual reality (VR) have to offer seniors. BETTER EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. Whether it's going for a walk, meeting friends for lunch, or seeing a movie, doing anything you enjoy improves emotional health. So it's no surprise many seniors who enjoy playing video games find themselves in better moods.  A study of 140 seniors over 63 years old concluded that both regular and occasional video gamers reported greater well-being, social functioning, and health than non-gamers. In addition, they reported significantly lower rates of depression among people who play video games than those who don't. IMPROVED BALANCE. Video games can provide physical benefits, too, especially to seniors. Certain games that require physical interaction, like Wii Sports and similar titles, can help seniors improve balance, coordination, and reflexes due to the quick decision-making and action required to play. Some seniors have even reported faster walking speeds as a result of playing video games.  It may not be obvious at first, but improving cognitive skills can translate into improved balance and gait. And while fitness video games like Nintendo Wii and even the newer Nintendo Switch have revolutionized exercise for seniors, virtual reality (VR) is already leaving its mark on physical therapy.  ENHANCED COGNITIVE ABILITY. Video games have the potential to support improvement not only emotionally and physically, but cognitively, as well. In fact, a University of California San Francisco study showed significant improvement in cognitive ability, effectively reversing signs of aging in seniors who played 3D video games. REDUCED RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S  With an estimated 5.5 million seniors suffering from Alzheimer's in th Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.