Enhancing Brain Health in Early Dementia with Game-Based Training

Recent research from ETH Zurich and Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences OST demonstrates that game-based training, specifically using exergames, can significantly improve memory and brain function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of dementia. These innovative cognitive exercises not only boost mental performance but also induce measurable structural changes in the brain, revealing the neuroplasticity of affected regions.

The studies involved around 40 participants, averaging 73 years old, who engaged in a 12-week at-home training program. The program consisted of brief sessions, about 25 minutes, five times a week, utilizing a system with a screen and a floor panel with motion sensors. Participants performed tasks such as memorizing shopping lists and making decisions by stepping to the right or left, targeting specific cognitive skills like attention, spatial awareness, and memory.

In addition to physical movement, participants practiced slow, controlled breathing exercises designed to stimulate the vagus nerve, thereby activating brain regions critical for cognitive processing. This holistic approach aimed to maximize the training's benefits.

Results published in prestigious journals revealed that participants experienced significant improvements in memory, with real-life benefits noticeable in daily activities like shopping and social interactions. Compared to control groups continuing standard therapies, those undergoing exergame training showed a slowdown in disease progression.

Further, brain imaging studies uncovered structural changes in key areas such as the hippocampus, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex. These regions, vital for memory and cognitive function, increased in volume after just 12 weeks of training, highlighting the potential of brain plasticity even in early dementia stages.

Overall, these findings are promising for developing non-pharmacological interventions to delay or reduce dementia symptoms, potentially altering disease trajectories. Future long-term studies are planned to explore whether sustained training can prevent or postpone the onset of dementia.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-game-based-boosts-memory-brain.html