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Digital games

Digital games has been studied in 5 papers since 2023: 3 trials in people, 2 reviews; 2 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 1, 2026: “Tabletop and screen games linked to memory gains in older adults”.

Intervention

5 papers study it14 findingsUpdated

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 5

“At post-test, the two intervention groups had higher total WMS scores than the control group (both P < 0.001)”
Impact of physical versus digital games on memory and related cognitive performance in older adults: a randomized controlled trialBMC geriatrics2026doi:10.1186/s12877-026-08545-w

None of its findings points the other way.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 5 independent labs in 5 countries
  • Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and 1 more
  • Human trial3

Studies in people

3 studies gave digital games to people and measured what changed.

What did studies of Digital games find?

11

Studies of Digital games measured 11 outcomes; the most studied are cognitive function (1 study), visual attention (1) and memory and related cognitive performance (1).

Cognitive function

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve cognitive function in humans (Space Invaders) (EAP = 10.61, 95% Bayesian CI: 3.86, 16.98).

    “In the estimated results for the intervention effect, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${mu}_{1}$$\end{document}, significant effects were observed in memory of numbers (EAP = 13.50, [95% Bayesian CI: 5.22, 21.40]), memory of words (EAP = 11.50, [95% Bayesian CI: 8.48, 14.43]), MRT (EAP = 11.57, [95% Bayesian CI: 2.70, 20.46]), and total score (EAP = 10.61, [95% Bayesian CI: 3.86, 16.98”

    Human trialSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

  2. Digital games improve cognitive function in humans (residents in nursing homes).

    “Visual inspection of the graphs revealed cognitive function score improvements after the intervention for most layers in terms of memory of numbers, memory of words, mental rotation test (visuospatial ability), and total scores”

    Human trialresidents in nursing homesSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

Visual attention

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve visual attention in humans (mean 5.04, SD 0.82 vs mean 4.41, SD 0.63).

    “There was a significant difference between the pre- and postintervention primary outcome measure (visual-scanning TAP; total trials: mean 5.04, SD 0.82 vs mean 4.41, SD 0.63; t11=3.5; P=.005; trials with targets present: mean 4.98, SD 0.76 vs mean 4.41, SD 0.73; t11=4.23; P=.001).”

    Human trial16 weeks (two phases, 8 weeks each)n = 12

    Tablet-Based Puzzle Game Intervention for Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Healthy Adults: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

    JMIR aging

  2. Digital games improve visual attention in humans.

    “The participants showed improvements in their visual attention and visuospatial measures after the puzzle game intervention.”

    Human trialn = 12

    Tablet-Based Puzzle Game Intervention for Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Healthy Adults: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

    JMIR aging

Memory and related cognitive performance

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve memory and related cognitive performance in humans.

    “At post-test, the two intervention groups had higher total WMS scores than the control group (both P < 0.001)”

    Human trialCommunity-dwelling older adults; screen games plus usual program versus usual program alone40-minute sessions twice weekly for 15 sessions15 sessionsn = 20

    Tabletop and screen games linked to memory gains in older adults

    BMC geriatrics

Motor skills

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve motor skills in humans.

    “Motor skills and executive function showed the greatest improvements”

    Reviewn = 1,201

    Digital Games for Cognitive Enhancement in Healthy Older Adults: A Scoping Review

    Games for health journal

Executive function

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve executive function in humans.

    “Motor skills and executive function showed the greatest improvements”

    Reviewn = 1,201

    Digital Games for Cognitive Enhancement in Healthy Older Adults: A Scoping Review

    Games for health journal

Working memory

no changein humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games showed no clear effect on working memory in humans (Space Invaders).

    “The N-back test and judgment task did not reveal significant intervention results.”

    Human trialSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

Visuospatial ability

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve visuospatial ability in humans (Space Invaders) (EAP = 11.57, 95% Bayesian CI: 2.70, 20.46).

    “MRT (EAP = 11.57, [95% Bayesian CI: 2.70, 20.46”

    Human trialSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

Memory of words

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve memory of words in humans (Space Invaders) (EAP = 11.50, 95% Bayesian CI: 8.48, 14.43).

    “memory of words (EAP = 11.50, [95% Bayesian CI: 8.48, 14.43”

    Human trialSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

Memory of numbers

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games improve memory of numbers in humans (Space Invaders) (EAP = 13.50, 95% Bayesian CI: 5.22, 21.40).

    “significant effects were observed in memory of numbers (EAP = 13.50, [95% Bayesian CI: 5.22, 21.40”

    Human trialSpace Invaders15 weeksn = 4

    Effect of digital game intervention on cognitive functions in older adults: a multiple baseline single case experimental design study

    BMC geriatrics

Emotional well-being

no changein humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games showed no clear effect on emotional well-being in humans.

    “No significant differences were found with the measures of global cognition (MoCA), selective (TMT-A completion time) and divided (TMT-B completion time) attention, mood disturbances, anxiety, and quality of life when compared between the 3 time points (pretest, midtest, and posttest), as shown in.”

    Human trial16 weeks (two phases, 8 weeks each)n = 12

    Tablet-Based Puzzle Game Intervention for Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Healthy Adults: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

    JMIR aging

Global cognition

no changein humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games showed no clear effect on global cognition in humans.

    “No significant differences were found with the measures of global cognition (MoCA), selective (TMT-A completion time) and divided (TMT-B completion time) attention, mood disturbances, anxiety, and quality of life when compared between the 3 time points (pretest, midtest, and posttest), as shown in.”

    Human trial16 weeks (two phases, 8 weeks each)n = 12

    Tablet-Based Puzzle Game Intervention for Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Healthy Adults: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

    JMIR aging

What is Digital games linked with?

1

Studies link Digital games with 1 measure, most often loneliness (1 study).

Loneliness

mixedin humans1

1 study

  1. Digital games are associated with loneliness in humans.

    “while many studies reported positive effects of gaming interventions, some findings were contradictory”

    Review

    The Role of Digital Gaming in Addressing Loneliness Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review

    Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 1Nov 2026: 01 paper in 12 months
BMC Geriatrics

Tabletop and screen games linked to memory gains in older adults

In a randomized trial of 60 adults aged 60 or older, both game groups scored higher than controls after 15 sessions.In a randomized trial of 60 adults aged 60 or older, both game groups scored higher than controls after 15 sessions.

Randomized trial · 60 peopleInterventions
Paper

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