Video games

4 papers8 findings

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.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

3 independent labs in 3 countries

Funders: European Regional Development Fund and 4 more

Human trial1
Humans3

Outcomes

Mental health

no changein humans1

1 study

Video games have no effect on mental health in humans.
“more time spent playing video games was associated with better cognitive performance but was unrelated to mental health”
Humans
Characterizing the cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise and video game playing
PloS one24 Oct 2025

Mnemonic strategy use

upin humans1

1 study

Video games improve mnemonic strategy use in humans (p = .035).
“post-intervention analyses revealed significant improvements in general health (p = .005), bodily pain (p = .016), vitality (p = .002), social function (p = .010), physical health factor (p = .045), frequency of mnemonic strategy use (p = .035)”
Human trial8 weeksn = 98
Efficacy of a video game for promoting active and healthy aging (Initial Version): a randomized controlled trial
BMC public health14 Oct 2025

Sleep hygiene

upin humans1

1 study

Video games improve sleep hygiene in humans (p = .004).
“post-intervention analyses revealed significant improvements in general health (p = .005), bodily pain (p = .016), vitality (p = .002), social function (p = .010), physical health factor (p = .045), frequency of mnemonic strategy use (p = .035), and sleep hygiene (p = .004)”
Human trial8 weeksn = 98
Efficacy of a video game for promoting active and healthy aging (Initial Version): a randomized controlled trial
BMC public health14 Oct 2025

Bodily pain

downin humans1

1 study

Video games decrease bodily pain in humans (p = .016).
“post-intervention analyses revealed significant improvements in general health (p = .005), bodily pain (p = .016), vitality (p = .002), social function (p = .010), physical health factor (p = .045)”
Human trial8 weeksn = 98
Efficacy of a video game for promoting active and healthy aging (Initial Version): a randomized controlled trial
BMC public health14 Oct 2025

General health

upin humans1

1 study

Video games improve general health in humans (p = .005).
“post-intervention analyses revealed significant improvements in general health (p = .005), bodily pain (p = .016), vitality (p = .002), social function (p = .010), physical health factor (p = .045)”
Human trial8 weeksn = 98
Efficacy of a video game for promoting active and healthy aging (Initial Version): a randomized controlled trial
BMC public health14 Oct 2025

Depressive symptoms

no changein humans1

1 study

Video games have no effect on depressive symptoms in humans (p=.12).
“find no difference between gamers and nongamers in depressive symptoms (p=.12).”
Humans
OLDER ADULTS WHO PLAY VIDEO GAMES: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY FARE?
GSA 2024 abstract31 Dec 2024

Associations

Cognitive function

upin humans1

1 study

Video games are associated with cognitive function in humans.
“more time spent playing video games was associated with better cognitive performance”
Humans
Characterizing the cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise and video game playing
PloS one24 Oct 2025

Cognitive scores

upin humans1

1 study

Video games are associated with cognitive scores in humans (p<.02).
“gamers have slightly higher cognitive scores (p<.02) longitudinally.”
Humans
OLDER ADULTS WHO PLAY VIDEO GAMES: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY FARE?
GSA 2024 abstract31 Dec 2024