New research suggests video games might actually be good for your brain | Canada Voices

Could playing more video games give you the brain of someone over a decade younger than you? Quite possible, says new research out of Western University in London, Ont.

Professor of neuroscience Adrian Owen studied 1,000 people around the world and chose two popular lifestyle factors that are modifiable – activities people can choose to engage in, as opposed to fixed traits like age or gender.

Participants provided information about their video gaming and exercise habits, followed by completing 12 cognitive tests. “The more hours of video gaming people reported playing on average per week, the better their cognitive function,” says Dr. Owen.

Those who frequently play video games – five or more hours per week – performed cognitively, on average, like people who were 13.7 years younger than themselves who did not play video games at all.

Individuals who engaged with video games sometimes – less than five hours per week – performed like people 5.2 years younger who did not game.

“So even a little bit of gaming certainly made a detectable difference in cognitive function,” Dr. Owen shares.

These findings suggest that video games could play a role in maintaining or even improving cognitive abilities, particularly as people age.

While previous research has focused on other strategies, such as puzzles or physical activity, this study introduces gaming as an additional tool in cognitive health.

For older adults, video games might even complement other forms of mental stimulation, offering an engaging and dynamic way to stay mentally sharp.

However, Dr. Owen cautions against overestimating the benefits, noting that video games are only one piece of a broader puzzle in cognitive health.

Although physical activity showed no link to cognitive function, Dr. Owen notes it significantly benefited mental health. Interestingly, his 2010 study found no connection between video games and cognitive performance, leading him to approach this new research with skepticism.

“This is actually the reason why going into this study, I wasn’t at all confident that video gaming was going to make any difference,” he says.

What Dr. Owen didn’t take into consideration is that the video game landscape has changed drastically in the last 15 years.

What changed between 2010 and today? Dr. Owen attributes the difference to the evolution of gaming itself, explaining: “When we looked at the sorts of games that people say they’re playing now, they are all turn-based strategy games – things like Minecraft, Civilization, Roblox, Among Us that actually involve solving or working your way through environments or fantasy lands and continually solving problems.”

Modern games are designed to challenge players with intricate problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and strategic thinking.

For instance, Minecraft requires players to plan and execute large-scale building projects while managing scarce resources, a process that taps into executive functioning skills. Similarly, Civilization forces players to weigh trade-offs in diplomacy, military strategy, and resource management over extended periods.

These elements, Dr. Owen notes, are likely “the secret to what’s going on,” especially when combined with the sheer amount of time people now spend gaming.

Another important piece of information that came out of the study: Age doesn’t matter.

“A lot of people said to me after the study, ‘Well, you know, presumably this only applies to young people.’ And when we look back at the data, we had people of all ages,” he says. “I mean, I think our oldest video gamer was 87 years old. The effects are exactly the same irrespective of age.”

Despite the promising results, the study does have limitations. For one, it relies on self-reported gaming habits, which can be subject to bias or inaccuracies. The study also does not establish causation – while gamers performed better on cognitive tests, it’s possible that individuals with higher cognitive function are naturally drawn to gaming.

Dr. Owen says this is interesting as it relates to preserving cognitive functioning as people grow older.

Amori Mikami, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a registered clinical psychologist, sees benefits to gaming other than cognitive function.

“Humans are hard-wired to need social connections,” she says. “Some video games have strong social components and provide a space to deepen friendships, as well as to give and receive social support.”

Dr. Mikami points to Pokémon Go as an example of how video games can foster social connections.

“There is a social component in this game where players are encouraged to co-operate with each other,” says Dr. Mikami.

Still, both experts emphasize the need for balance.

Dr. Owen acknowledges that while gaming shows promising cognitive benefits, it’s important to keep screen time in perspective. “We’re not saying screen time is great,” he says. “[But] it’s probably premature to put a blanket negative view on all screen-based activities, in particular video games. Because in fact, they may have some benefits for people.”