Video games linked to better neuropsychological performance in adults with multiple sclerosis

A study of adults with multiple sclerosis found that participants who spent more time playing video games tended to have better neuropsychological functioning. Specifically, gamers showed improvements in visuospatial learning, short-term memory, and executive functioning. The paper was published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It involves an abnormal immune response that attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerve fibers, leading to inflammation and damage. This disruption in communication within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body can result in a wide range of symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, balance and coordination problems, vision disturbances, and cognitive decline.

The course of multiple sclerosis can vary. Some individuals will experience periods of relapse and remission, while others have a more progressive form of the disease with symptoms gradually worsening over time. At the moment there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatments focus on managing symptoms.

Study author Thomas J. Covey and his colleagues noted that accumulating cognitive reserve might help individuals become more resilient to cognitive decline. Cognitive reserve is the brain’s ability to adapt and find alternative ways of functioning to compensate for damage. Engaging in stimulating activities such as cognitive leisure activities, education, and occupational attainment can help build cognitive reserve.

The authors hypothesized that video games could be among these stimulating activities due to their enjoyable and cognitively challenging nature. Previous research has shown that playing a “Super Mario” video game over several months was associated with increases in brain gray matter volume and functional changes in several brain regions. Based on this, the researchers hypothesized that individuals with multiple sclerosis who spend more time playing video games would have better neuropsychological performance.

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The study involved 42 adults with multiple sclerosis, 34 of whom were female. Participants, with an average age of 45, had been managing their symptoms with various medications for an average of 12-13 years. On average, they reported playing video games for five hours per week, although this ranged from 0 to 40 hours.

Participants completed a questionnaire about their current and lifetime history of video game playing, as well as their preferred games. They also underwent a series of neuropsychological tests to estimate their intelligence level before the onset of multiple sclerosis (using the North American Adult Reading Test) and assess their current neuropsychological functioning (using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis).

Thirty-two participants reported having completed at least one video game during adulthood, and 24 of these had regularly played video games in the past three months.

Participants who reported playing video games for longer hours tended to have better overall cognitive performance, including improved executive functioning, short-term memory, and visuospatial and verbal learning abilities. These relationships held even after controlling for age, time since the onset of multiple sclerosis, and pre-disease intelligence levels. Additionally, hours spent playing video games were a better predictor of these cognitive abilities than some factors traditionally considered beneficial for cognitive reserve.

“The findings suggest that playing video games consistently through adulthood is associated with better cognitive outcomes in PwMS [people with multiple sclerosis], particularly in the domains of new learning and executive functioning,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the links between video gaming and neuropsychological functioning in adults with multiple sclerosis. However, the study’s design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions. While playing video games might help prevent cognitive decline, it is also possible that individuals with better cognitive abilities are more capable of playing and enjoying video games.

The paper, “History of Playing Video Games is Associated with Better Neuropsychological Performance in People with Multiple Sclerosis,” was authored by Thomas J. Covey, Janet L. Shucard, Elizabeth Bukoskey, and David W. Shucard.