Game Play Is Not Just Good

Posted

| Game Play Is Not Just Good, But Great For Adults (NAPSA)—Research has demonstrated that any activity that uses problem-solving skills such as working on puzzles or playing memory gameswill slow age-related declines in mental ability and actually strengthen these skills. “Performing stimulating activi- ties can slow age-related declines in mental ability, dementia, cognitive decline and maybe even Alzheimer’s disease, and can actually reverse the declines associ- ated with aging and disuse,” said Michael F. Roizen, MD, founder of RealAge, professor of anesthesiol- re ogy and internal medicine at BRAIN GAMES—Performing stimulating activities can slow agerelated declines in mentalability. ing author. “As we get older, our res, RealAge Games & Skills become impaired if we do nothing to prevent that change. We see and challenge each of their funda- SUNY Upstate Medical University, and New York Times best-sell- memory and other mental abilities this play out in driving skills, memoryrecall, overall quickness and personal interactions. None of us are immune tothese results of aging but, fortunately, games that sharpen problem-solving skills slow this type of decline.” Learning newskills or tasks is one of the best ways to maintain a high level of cognitive function. The fundamental skills that we must exercise include memory, pattern recognition and match- ing, strategy, collision detection and avoidance, target acquisition and resolution, and hand-eye coordination. These are the same fundamental skills used to perform everyday taskslike driving a car, planning and managing your schedule or unpacking groceries— tasks essential to independent living. Anew computer-based collection of 30 games from a variety of gen- requires users to learn new skills mental motor and mental skills. Additionally, because they are played on a PC, these gamesprovide a built-in, non-judgmental opponent and allow players to take risks they may not take with a live opponent. Having stimulating games at your fingertips also means fewer obstacles to improving your memory—you don’t have to wait for card night or the weekly crossword; you can play as often as you like and stop when you are tired. Additionally, the practice and feedback that RealAge Games & Skills provides helps players improve performance. Getting older can be a sensitive topic and sometimes difficult for friends and family to address directly. To ease into the topic, consider giving the gift of memory with RealAge Games & Skills. For more information on the benefits of game play for adults, visit www.realagegames.com.