Brain Games

Previously, studies suggest that engagement in activities that stimulate thought, new ideas, new memories, and that challenge us mentally may encourage brain health as we age and possibly reduce risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.  Stephanie Schultz, from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute (Wisconsin, USA), and colleagues studied 329 cognitively normal middle-aged adults (mean age of 60.3 years) enrolled in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention. Forty percent of the participants were positive for the APOe4 gene and 74 percent had a parental family history of Alzheimer’s, both of which are known to increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s.  These at-risk adults reported their current engagement in cognitively-stimulating activities using the Cognitive Activity Scale (CAS), underwent MRI brain imaging, and completed a comprehensive battery of neurocognitive tests. After controlling for confounding factors, the researchers found that a higher self-reported frequency of game playing was significantly associated with greater brain volume in several regions involved in Alzheimer’s disease (such as the hippocampus) and with higher cognitive test scores on memory and executive function. The lead investigator submits that: ‘Our findings suggest that, for some individuals, engagement in cognitively stimulating activities, especially those involving games such as puzzles and cards, might be a useful approach for preserving brain structures and cognitive functions that are vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease.”