Study: Kinetic games stimulate memory and improve cognitive weakness

Researchers from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, revealed that training depends on interactive kinetic games that can improve memory and cognitive abilities in elderly people suffering from simple cognitive weakness, which is the early stage of dementia. The study showed that this type of training is not only reflected in the performance of daily life, but also in just 12 weeks of concrete changes in the structure of the brain. With the high age around the world, society faces a growing crisis; One person in 10 over 70th suffers from dementia, and this number is expected to double 3 times by 2050. The injured disease does not take away his memory, but also weakens his ability to practice his daily life, and in his advanced stages he places the need for comprehensive care. In recent years, new medicines have emerged that can delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common forms of dementia – but are still effectively limited and available to some patients. The technology of “training kinetic games” has also emerged as a promising option, a mixture of physical activity and mental exercises without side effects. Dementia in 2021: 57 million people live with dementia, more than 60% of them in countries with low and medium income. Every year, about 10 million new cases are recorded. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common under dementia and contributes to 60-70% of cases. Death is the seventh cause of death worldwide and one of the most important causes of disability and dependence on others among the elderly. In 2019: The cost of dementia has reached 1.3 trillion US dollars worldwide, nearly half of which goes to sponsorships offered by non -official suppliers (family members, friends), at a rate of 5 hours a day. Women are more affected by dementia: in terms of death rates and disability, and they cover 70% of the care hours provided to the injured. Kinetic games training is a new generation of interactive games that combine physical activity and mental exercises; In that kind of game, the player does not sit in a traditional control arm, but rather moves his body to perform specific tasks, such as walking, jumping or taking steps in different directions in response to indicators appearing on the screen. These games are not only intended to entertain, but are designed to strengthen cognitive abilities; Such as memory, attention and visual skills and at the same time improve physical fitness. In 2021, a study with the participation of researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology showed that this kind of game improves mental and physical abilities and the quality of advanced dementia patients. Two new studies from the same institution reveal that the training itself is also useful for the elderly suffering from a simple cognitive disability, an early stage that can later develop into dementia. The lead author of the study Patrick Maner says that it was not limited to improving the cognitive performance of the participants, “we also monitored clear changes in their brain structure.” About 40 people participated in the two experiences at an average age of 73 years, which were trained in their homes five times a week, each time for about 25 minutes, over a 12 -week period on a system consisting of a screen to display exercises and a 4 square plate measuring the footsteps. For example, the participant had to store a shopping manner, and then choose – by taking a real or right step – whether the product on the screen is in the list or not; These activities target basic cognitive abilities such as attention, memory and visual ghost man, which is exactly what begins to deteriorate with the beginning of dementia. After the exercise, participants were asked to practice slow and regular breathing to stimulate the confused nerve and stimulate important brain areas for cognitive functions, which strengthened the effectiveness of exercise. The results were striking; The memory of the participants improved concrete, and this is reflected in their daily lives – during shopping, or in managing a conversation, or dealing with simple pressure, as many of them have said that they have become more fit, clear and confident. As for the control group, which was not subject to training and was satisfied with the usual treatments, it was a decrease in his abilities, in line with the natural path of the disease. The researcher who participated in the study, Eling de Bruyne, said he hoped to help the kinetic games to slow down or reduce the symptoms of dementia in those who show the first signs of the disease. The biggest surprise comes from the second study, as the researchers monitored structural changes in the brain after the MRI images were known for an increase in the size of the strongholds – the area responsible for memory – as well as the hypothalamus, as well as improvements to the front of the cortex and frontal lobe. On the other hand, the brain of the control group was a decrease in these areas. “So it has monitored growth after only 12 weeks, it is an incredible evidence of the elasticity of the brain, even in the elderly,” says De Bruyne. The researchers believe that these structural changes are associated with a noticeable improvement in cognitive performance and memory, suggesting that training may have a direct influence on the adjustment of the disease itself; However, at the same time, they can ensure that the ability of personal training in games to delay or prevent the development of dementia requires longer time studies. Indeed, there are plans to make new projects in which participants practice longer than three months; Although the drug is still limited and the disease threatens millions, this research opens a window that the movement and game can be more than just entertainment, but rather an effective treatment that retains memory and human identity.