Some do the crossword, others play Su Doku, but could it be that the secret to staying sharp in old age is playing video games?
Brain-training games are increasing in popularity, but until now no one has convincingly shown that getting better at a game makes any difference to thinking or memory.
However, a study published in Nature has found that a specially designed video game, based on reacting to signs while driving, improves older people’s ability to multitask, concentrate and remember information.
NeuroRacer, a 3-D driving video game, involves responding to unpredictable signs at the same time as trying to keep your virtual car on the road.
Without training, abilities to multitask in this way decline steadily with age. After just a month