I am in my 40s and no one until today was able to guess my actual age or even come close to it. It is not the way I speak, dress or wear my makeup. It is not the places I go to and the people I meet, my secret recipe to youth is “Gaming”

The generation who played Pac-Man are ready for retirement and are still playing games. The percentage of U.S. gamers who are over age 50 has increased rapidly, from just 9 percent in 1999 to 27 percent in 2015. A more recent survey from Statista indicates that 42% of people who play video games are in the 35-75 age bracket with 7% above 65 years old. So, it’s time to change your perspective about gaming being for the young, to gaming makes me younger.

Did you know that gaming can help to reduce your brain age by 7 years! A study comes amidst a burst of research examining why, as we age, our minds gradually lose “executive function”, generally considered mission control for critical mental activities, such as memory, attention, perception, and problem solving. Some studies show loss of executive function occurs as people reach middle age; other studies say our cognitive decline begins as early as 28 years of age.

Scientists at the University of Iowa in the United States discovered that elderly people who played just 10 hours of a game delayed aging by 7 years in a range of cognitive skills.

If the above doesn’t excite you then this will surely do the job, gaming also helps delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. A 2012 study published in JAMA Neurology found that playing games can lower levels of beta-amyloid, a protein that interferes with brain function and can eventually lead to Alzheimer’s.

That’s not all, it’s been scientifically proven that people who play video games have better spatial coordination and fine motor skills than those who don’t.

You will not only have a younger brain, but a younger look too. Recent studies have shown that adults who play video games higher levels of happiness, and in some cases relaxation, as a result of their gaming.

Unleash your inner child:  adult gamers have a daily chance to engage in playful activity and build a stronger connection with their inner child which can help in becoming happier and enjoying life more fully.

With never ending life pressures, playing video games is a great way to de-stress from the demands of everyday life and do something enjoyable.

Whether it’s a realistic video game like Call of Duty or a highly imaginative video game like World of Warcraft, using imagination to put yourself in the mindset of a character and their world is a highly stimulating and a creative exercise for the brain.

You all know what that means right? A stress free, relaxed life will surely help to make you feel happy which immediately reflects on your skin, your hair, the glow in your eyes, and your attitude, all contributing to making you look much younger than you actually are.

Did you get all fired up about gaming? Do you want to start playing video games? There are many good games out there that surely are interesting to try and some are quite challenging too. If you want to build your own city, decide where people live, what’s the tax, and have your own monument, try Cities: Skylines. If you always wanted to try an assembly line, build a factory, and make it more successful, try Factorio.

If you don’t want things related to work, something more creative, colorful and relaxing, try Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Or if you like to play against others and be competitive, try Call of Duty, Overwatch or Heroes of the Storm.

If you want to slay dragons and live a fairy tale or be a hero who saves the world, try Dragon Age: Inquisition or Skyrim. Want to rule the world and build your own empire try Age of Empires or Civilization.

Or if you enjoy movie like games, with excellent voice acting and amazing music and a quality story line, I suggest you try the Last of Us, Uncharted, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming can help you relive happy childhood memories and help your brain develop excellent cognition, motor skills and creativity. Remember, gaming is no longer for the younger generation, it’s for everyone!

By Abeer Almahmeed, Compliance & Performance Manager – Global

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/1149704

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130501192918.htm

https://www.theesa.com/resource/2022-essential-facts-about-the-video-game-industry/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/248892/frequency-of-using-smartphones-to-play-games-in-the-us/