Can video games help cancer patients?

Playing a video game requires mental agility and focus. You have to target the bad guys, learn new skills to get ahead, and remember how to use your controller to jump on that roadside bomb or avoid the killer hiding in the corner. The on-screen action is not an actual reality, but the learning and effort involved may have real-world applications. For cancer patients who find it difficult to focus on certain tasks or remember what they were looking for in the kitchen, for example, games can train their brain and help them combat confusion, memory loss, and other related side effects.

Memory and cognition problems are, in fact, a common side effect of cancer treatment, affecting nearly 75 percent of patients, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Problems can include difficulty learning new information or tasks, having trouble multitasking, remembering common words, names, or dates, or simply taking more time to process information. Because video games require players to move quickly, keep track of many things at once, and make decisions quickly, some studies show that games can improve attention, perception, memory, and decision-making skills from patients. That’s why some in the medical field are urging patients to play with them.

The “homework” approach

Think of it as a chore. Work on a handful of Sudoku puzzles each week and tackle the New York Times crossword clue as common ways of flexing the cranial muscle. Add playing a 20-minute video three times a week to your brain training, and you may find that it helps improve mental clarity. “If patients are playing games that focus on their cognitive needs, help them track their progress, and give providers a way to improve patient care, it’s in everyone’s best interest,” says Kathryn Anderson, MD, chief of natural medicine at Cancer Centers. of America® (CTCA).

Of course, like all homework, video games can never replace face-to-face visits with your provider, but they can supplement what you learn in a therapist’s office. “This would be a supplement that patients would also enjoy,” Anderson says.

Research indicating the cognitive benefits of playing video games has emerged in the medical world in the past decade. A video game released in 2008 used scientific data to design a game for pediatric cancer patients. Forgiveness , and the latest released version is now re-mission 2 , and it gives young patients a potent challenge: Instead of targeting bad guys, they’re shooting at cancer cells. their weapons? Chemotherapy and antibiotics. One study found that patients who played the game were more likely to stay on their treatment plans and learn more about cancer in general than those who didn’t.

EVO . project

Another game, called Project: EVO™, throws players into a frozen river, and challenges them to touch the blue fish while avoiding fish of other colors. One study found that gambling helped improve the mood and mental ability of older adults with depression. The study also found that older adults who played were able to focus better and were less easily distracted. Project: EVO is now undergoing clinical studies to see if it can also help patients with ADHD, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and TBI.