The Health Benefits of Gaming

The health benefits of some things are well known. For example, it is well documented that eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables will increase your health and vitality, and most are aware that if you exercise regularly, your cardiovascular health and your wellbeing will improve. However, there is not as much public knowledge of the health benefits of video gaming, though there is a growing body of research suggesting that gaming can be very good for your health. So, what are the benefits of gaming?

First of all, playing video games can give your brain a boost. Certain areas of your brain, like those responsible for spatial awareness and planning, are strengthened when you play video games, and studies have even shown a real increase in grey matter in these areas. As well as this, gaming has been shown to improve mental health, increase memory capacity, reduce the speed at which the elderly experience cognitive decline, and it has a host of other benefits.

Gaming also has many potential applications in the field of medicine. We have already mentioned elderly care above, but there are also potential uses in eye care, rehabilitation and trauma care. To give an example, research has shown that those who have a ‘lazy eye’ can strengthen this weak eye through playing video games, debunking your mother’s theory that gaming would give you square eyes!

The research is ongoing, but existing evidence on the benefits of gaming is certainly exciting. So far we know that gaming can improve cognitive health, increase wellbeing, exergaming can help you become fitter, and games can help you in recovery after an illness. So, the only remaining question is which game will you choose? Mario? Sonic the Hedgehog? Call of Duty?

To find out more about the amazing benefits of gaming, see the infographic below from our partners at Computer Planet.