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Those are your only 2 choices”. A 2024 study involving 471,346 people found that people who frequently played computer games had a lower risk of developing dementia and performed better on several cognitive tests than those who rarely or never played. The study, published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy in June 2024, used data from the UK Biobank. Researchers followed 471,346 White British participants who did not have dementia at the start of the study. The median follow-up was 13.7 years. During the follow-up period, 7,898 participants developed dementia. Compared with people who never or rarely played computer games, those who sometimes played had a 10% lower adjusted risk of dementia. Those who often played had a 19% lower adjusted risk. The reported odds ratio was 0.37, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.15 to 0.91.
Instead, it found an association and reported a possible causal link in a separate genetic analysis. The researchers said earlier studies had also reported links between video gaming and cognitive performance, including studies involving older adults and people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
The researchers said the finding suggested a potential causal association, but they also said further research is needed. Researchers in the 2014 study described the findings as associations and said computer gaming “may” be a potential target for dementia prevention. Elon Musk recently sparked a discussion about video games after he wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Play video games or be dumb! His post comes as a study examined whether gaming may do more than provide entertainment. The researchers also found links with brain structure. However, the study does not prove that playing video games prevents dementia. Participants were asked whether they played computer games and how often. They were grouped into those who never or rarely played, sometimes played, or often played. The researchers also looked at different areas of cognitive function. People who often played computer games performed better in tests involving prospective memory, reaction time, fluid intelligence, numeric memory and visuospatial memory, compared with people who never or rarely played. The study also found that frequent gaming was associated with a higher volume of gray matter in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory and learning. The study went beyond simply comparing gamers and non-gamers.Researchers conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis, which uses genetic variations linked to an exposure to examine whether there may be a causal relationship. That analysis found that genetically predicted higher frequency of computer gaming was associated with a lower risk of dementia. Not necessarily. They also noted that the effects of gaming can depend on the type of game and gaming device. The study was observational for its main analysis, meaning researchers observed participants’ gaming habits and health outcomes rather than assigning people to play video games. The authors also stated that further clinical trials are needed to understand which types of gaming may have useful effects on cognition and whether gaming can actually reduce dementia risk. Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.