Video games may help keep ageing brains sharp

Some older people may want to take an interest in their grandchildren's video games: research shows these games benefit the brain in older adults.

In a study of 40 people in their sixties and seventies, those who learned a strategy video game scored higher in mental tests. After about a month of training, they did better on tests of memory, reasoning and multitasking. The research was published in the journal Psychology and Aging.

Participants were randomly assigned to play or to a comparison group. The players trained for about 23 hours over a month on Rise of Nations, a strategy game that involves defending territory, building cities and managing an economy to feed the population.

The results are promising and support using strategy games to help maintain the memory, reasoning and thinking skills that decline with age. So it's a great idea for grandparents to learn strategy games with their grandchildren, not just for family ties but to keep their minds sharp.