Gamification and Executive Functions in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Gomez Morgan, Pahor Anja, Carrillo Audrey, Seitz Aaron, Jaeggi Susanne
Primary Institution: Northeastern University
Hypothesis
Participants with greater difficulty inhibiting distractions would benefit more from non-gamified training, whereas those with higher distractor tolerance would perform better with gamified tasks.
Conclusion
The study found that individuals with high inhibitory control benefitted more from gamified training, while those with low inhibitory control benefitted more from non-gamified training.
Supporting Evidence
- Cognitive training can help older adults maintain and improve executive functions.
- Gamification can enhance motivation and engagement during cognitive training.
- Inhibitory control significantly predicted the effectiveness of the training interventions.
Takeaway
Older adults can improve their thinking skills through games, but some might do better with regular training instead.
Methodology
Two crossover randomized controlled trials comparing gamified and non-gamified EF interventions.
Participant Demographics
Older adults, average age 69 years, with some at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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