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Expert reveals how mind and brain training games can have significant health benefits

A major advantage of brain training games which get harder as you level up is that they can improve your attention span.

Myanmar eSport members watch a game on a phone at the SEA Games — © AFP Ye Aung Thu
Myanmar eSport members watch a game on a phone at the SEA Games — © AFP Ye Aung Thu

The benefits of keeping physically fit and healthy are well-established pieces of advice for encouraging a person to stay top of their physical performance. In addition, the brain matters, and experts have revealed that playing certain games and completing challenges that test cognitive skills can stimulate our mental fitness, giving us ample ways of improving brain health.

The value of such games is set out in a research paper titled “Brain Training Games Enhance Cognitive Function in Healthy Subjects”. This paper finds evidence for a positive impact on attention and memory functions.

For example, according to SolitaireBliss playing fun mind games and performing stimulating brain challenges can have huge benefits when trying to remain mentally fit. They have provided the basis for this to Digital Journal.

Improving memory

Given that cognitive functions, including attention, memory, and analytical ability, show a functional decrease with age, one of the most beneficial effects of brain training games is their ability to improve memory, and with neurodegeneration commonly being disregarded as something only to worry about at an old age, many are unaware that deterioration can start as early as their 30s.

There are many ways to improve brain health and keep a sharp memory, and factors such as maintaining a varied diet along with good nutrition, having a healthy sleeping pattern, regular exercise and interacting with people you can keep your cognitive skills tested. These factors are all vital to sustaining a healthy brain but adding brain training games into your day can be a fun way to increase and add to your brain’s daily exercises.

Speeding up reaction time

Another perk of downloading a brain training app is its ability to help increase reaction times which depends on the central nervous system’s speed. High cognitive functioning reaction times can be highly beneficial, especially to those who excel in sports requiring fast hand-eye coordination and medical roles requiring swift and precise reactions.

Overall, higher cognitive functions stem from a healthy nervous system which proves how vital visual awareness and reaction times are, all of which can be exercised and improved with brain training apps.

Improving attention span

Having a short attention span can be a real annoyance when performing day-to-day tasks as it can lead to poor focus at work as well as cause problems in communication similarly, it can also lead to anxiety and stress due to the inability to finish complex tasks.

A major advantage of brain training games which get harder as you level up is that they can improve your attention span by being able to keep the gamer engaged and solely focused on the game at hand; this can be very beneficial to those who suffer easily from distraction and find it difficult to focus on one thing at a time.

Helps to assist those after suffering severe head injuries

There can be many causes for concern when a patient has suffered from brain trauma. Such injuries can lead to an alteration in mental state, whether difficulty concentrating or disorientation, and also fears of focal neurological problems. This could be anything from distorted or loss of vision, weakness in building back muscle and struggles with speech.

Many patients who have suffered severe head injuries will use brain training and memory games to rehabilitate and recover from such traumatic events. By stretching your brain muscles and exercising your cognitive skills, you are actively accelerating all elements of the brain, which can speed up improvement in strength, coordination, and balance.

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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