On May 11, 2015, the New York Times featured two-time AFAR Grantee Dr. Adam Gazzaley’s research demonstrating that use of a computer game may help to enhance older adults’ ability to multitask.
Dr. Gazzaley and his team found that adults aged 60-85 who were trained on the game NeuroRacer saw improvements in their working memory and in their ability to multitask and maintain sustained attention. The improvements remained for at least six months.
The article cautions readers to look for quality research studies before investing in products that claim to improve aging brain function, but this new research demonstrates that certain computer games may be as or more effective as traditional pencil-and-paper brain training programs.
Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry and the Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.
When combined with other healthy lifestyle choices, brain training games can contribute to maintaining cognitive abilities as we age. For more on healthy aging visit our InfoAging guide here.
