Video Games Good for All Ages

Well they're probably not good for students during finals week, but a recent University of Illinois study shows that video games improve critical cognitive skills in older adults.

“Older people tend to fare less well on things that are called executive control processes,” Kramer said. “These include things like scheduling, planning, working memory, multitasking and dealing with ambiguity.”

After testing several video games, the researchers selected “Rise of Nations,” which gives gamers points for building cities and “wonders,” feeding and employing their people, maintaining an adequate military and expanding their territory.

Washington Post: Playing Video Games May Boost Older Brains
Illinois News Bureau: Strategic video game improves critical cognitive skills in older adults