Preprints.org · Apr 9, 2025

Skill Sports and E-sports on Cognitive Function

By Kumagai S, Park H, Chen S et al.

Recent findings in physical activity epidemiology suggest that physical activity and exercise may help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. However, there is still no consensus on the causal relationship between cognitive function and physical activity or sedentary behavior, nor on the direction of this relationship. In addition to electronic sports (e-sports), which can be played without restrictions on age, sex, time, or location, recent research has examined the relationship between cognitive function and different types of sports and exercise, focusing on motor skill demands. This review explores the background and mechanisms underlying the recommendation of open-skill exercise (OSE) for preventing and mitigating cognitive decline, as well as maintaining and enhancing cognitive function. Furthermore, it discusses the role of OSE and e-sports as lifelong sports. Latent Heritable Confounder Mendelian Randomization has confirmed a causal relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in non-dementia patients, while finding no significant association between cognitive function and sedentary time. Prospective studies suggest that exercise habits, physical fitness, and performance may help inhibit cognitive decline and the onset of dementia. However, intervention studies have not reached a consensus on the effectiveness of exercise in improving cognitive function among the general elderly population or patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. In conclusion, aerobic OSE appears to be more effective in preventing cognitive decline and dementia associated with aging compared to closed-skill exercise. E-sports has the potential to integrate cognitive engagement with physical activity, social interaction, and stress reduction, making it a unique and holistic approach to brain health. In other words, e-sports represents a versatile intervention that simultaneously addresses multiple aspects of health.

doi.org/10.20944/preprints202504.0744.v1Open accessInterventions