Video games are not just for kids any longer in case you haven’t noticed. Most people have access to computers now and it seems that a lot of us ‘old fogeys’ are playing video games on them. My personal favorites are Bejeweled Blitz and Zuma. I think I like them because of the racket they make when I blast the little jewels or maybe its because I try to get a higher score in shorter lengths of time. I do play against other people on line also.
I have some Scrabble buddies that I have never met but we are all using words we probably don’t get to use in normal everyday conversations. Its rather exciting to me to see my little notice that one of the others has played and its my turn to see if they have bested me.
At times I wonder if I am wasting my time playing games. I play them to unwind after a stress filled day or I might just use the games as a way of procrastination. Then again I might not be sleepy yet and the games are a way of making me tired enough to doze off. What every the reason, I was invited to participate in a study of ‘older’ adult gamers.
Research has found that video games have the potential to help seniors age more gracefully, keeping their minds sharp and responsive through game play. There's growing evidence that suggests playing video games actually can improve older adults' reflexes, processing speed, memory, attention skills and spatial abilities. With the advent of the Nintendo Wii, there's even the potential that video games could provide an outlet for physical exercise. Research has found that off-the-shelf video games have the potential to help seniors age more gracefully, keeping their minds sharp and responsive through game play.
I have not gotten a Wii yet but I know plenty of people that have and they love them. They like the virtual reality of the exercise. A study was conducted in a senior center in Florida and the Wii Bowling game boosted the players heart rates by 40%. The game required the players all of whom were in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, to hold the controller just as they would a bolwing ball and swing it to hit the pins in the virtual bowling alley. The older folks loved it because it was something they could do and it was good for them!
The potential of playing video games to stave off dementia and Alzheimers and keep minds sharp is being heavily studied right now. Is all of this game playing, whether it is playing solitaire or Bejeweled or Warcraft or Rise of Nations, going to help you rmember to take your medications or remember what you went to the store to buy? Who knows. It might improve your short term memory. It might not. That part has not been proven yet. But senior citizens, and those of us boomers that are the fast track to senior status might should consider playing video games as one of the things that we can do to keep ourselves sharp. We ain’t dead yet. And kids are usually impressed to find out that the Gparents can play a video game. So I say go for it. Play some games and to heck with what any one thinks. Play them for pleasure, play them for stress relief, play them for competition. Just play a game and tell yourself its good for you!
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