Exergaming
Intervention4 papers8 findings
A human trial in mild neurocognitive disorder shows that exergaming reduces hippocampal hyperactivation during memory encoding and increases right precuneus and middle cingulate activation. A review describes improved dynamic gait and balance in people with chronic conditions.
- Human trial1
Outcomes
6Balance
upin humans2High certainty
2 studies
Balance
upin humans2High certainty
Exergaming improves balance in humans (+ 2.15 Berg points).
Reviewin older adults
Augmented Reality as a Home-Based, Ballet-Style Exercise Companion for Thai Older Adults: An Open-Data Assessment of Quality-of-Life Potential, Feasibility, and Public Attitudes · Research Square · 7 Sep 2026 · Preprint
Exergaming improves balance in humans (MD = 2.93, 95% CI 0.44-5.41).
Reviewchronic conditions
Effects of exergaming on balance and functional performance in older adults with chronic conditions living in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis · Frontiers in public health · 7 Sep 2026
Functional activation in middle cingulate gyrus
upin humans1Moderate certainty
1 study
Functional activation in middle cingulate gyrus
upin humans1Moderate certainty
Exergaming increases functional activation in middle cingulate gyrus in humans (d = 0.26).
Human trialmild neurocognitive disordermiddle cingulate gyrus120 min/week12 weeksn = 32
Exergame as medicine? Functional brain adaptations linked to cognitive changes in neurocognitive disorders: exploratory randomized controlled trial · GeroScience · 22 Sep 2026
Functional activation in the right precuneus
upin humans1Moderate certainty
1 study
Functional activation in the right precuneus
upin humans1Moderate certainty
Exergaming increases functional activation in the right precuneus in humans (d = 0.76).
Human trialmild neurocognitive disorderright precuneus120 min/week12 weeksn = 32
Exergame as medicine? Functional brain adaptations linked to cognitive changes in neurocognitive disorders: exploratory randomized controlled trial · GeroScience · 22 Sep 2026
Hippocampus hyperactivation during memory encoding
downin humans1Moderate certainty
1 study
Hippocampus hyperactivation during memory encoding
downin humans1Moderate certainty
Exergaming decreases hippocampus hyperactivation during memory encoding in humans (partial η2 = 0.19, p < 0.0001).
Human trialmild neurocognitive disorderhippocampus120 min/week12 weeksn = 32
Exergame as medicine? Functional brain adaptations linked to cognitive changes in neurocognitive disorders: exploratory randomized controlled trial · GeroScience · 22 Sep 2026
Dynamic gait ability
upin humans1High certainty
1 study
Dynamic gait ability
upin humans1High certainty
Exergaming improves dynamic gait ability in humans (MD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.09-1.35).
Reviewchronic conditions
Effects of exergaming on balance and functional performance in older adults with chronic conditions living in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis · Frontiers in public health · 7 Sep 2026
Mobility
upin humans1
1 study
Mobility
upin humans1
Exergaming improves mobility in humans (− 2.48 s Timed-Up-and-Go).
Reviewin older adults
Augmented Reality as a Home-Based, Ballet-Style Exercise Companion for Thai Older Adults: An Open-Data Assessment of Quality-of-Life Potential, Feasibility, and Public Attitudes · Research Square · 7 Sep 2026 · Preprint
Associations
1BDNF
mixedin humans1Moderate certainty
1 study
BDNF
mixedin humans1Moderate certainty
Exergaming is associated with BDNF in humans.
Review
Effects of exergaming on brain health in aging: a scoping review of current evidence · Frontiers in public health · 10 Aug 2026