Playing Computer Games can Lower Depression in Old Adults

Computer games can help treat depression in the elderly, a new study suggests.

According to the researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, old people might benefit from playing games on the computer.

The researchers said that playing computer games helped ease symptoms of depression faster than "gold standard" antidepressant called escitalopram, Livescience reported.

A recent study by the researchers at North Carolina State University also showed that senior citizens who play videogames report greater wellbeing than old people who don't play such games.

The small study included 11 people. Participants were given a four-week computer training program. Researchers then tested all patients for symptoms of depression and brain functions.

The team then compared the study findings to results obtained by a separate research that included 33 participants who were put on escitalopram, AFP reported.

The team found that computer therapy was better than antidepressants in treating symptoms of depression. What's more is that people who used computers saw improvement in their condition in just four weeks instead of 12 weeks, as is the case with drug treatment.

According to researchers, videogames improve executive functions and in turn reduces symptoms of depression.

"Our findings suggest that the health and functioning of brain circuits responsible for executive functions are important for recovery from depression," said Sarah Shizuko Morimoto, a research neuropsychologist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, according to Livescience.

The researchers said that computer therapy could be used along with anti-depressants in people showing symptoms of major depression.

A related study published in the journal PLOS ONE states that owning a personal computer can lower dementia risk by as much as 40 percent in men. Older adults, who play video dance games, are also more likely to meet physical activity goals, stated another study. Also, active video games help senior citizens in community dwellings exercises.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.