Video Games for Dementia?

My cohort on OurAlzheimer's, Leah, has vascular dementia. I like to let Leah take over this spot every now and then, as she has some wonderful insights from the inside of dementia. Below is Leah's post, "Take Over the World."

"Everyday is a struggle to keep my short term memory as keen as possible.  Vascular dementia has tried to defeat me, but I am fighting back.  Recently I “discovered” the website of the American Geriatrics Society.  Perhaps some of what I learned will be of help to you.

The journal Psychology and Aging reports the findings of a study using the “Rise of Nations” video game.  Though the study is small (20 participants played the game, 20 did not), the results were quite remarkable.  The participants who played the game received rewards during their play time for successfully managing, building, and expanding empires.  ALL twenty game players showed improvement in working memory (short term memory), visual memory (memory of things seen such as lists), and other thinking abilities.  I have not seen the “Rise of Nations” video game, but I have put it on my “to do” list."

Read more of Leah's post:

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Comments

[FlorenceKlein]

Carol:
Your articles are timely and helpful!!
Thank you!
Florence