Cognitive Aging: Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Abstract

According to the literature, physical inactivity and lack of stimulating leisure activity are significantly important modifiable factors for cognitive aging. In this perspective article, we have summarized recent findings of non-pharmacological intervention effects on cognitive decline/dementia and have suggested that playing newly developed active video games, which can simultaneously increase both leisure-time physical activity and cognitively stimulating leisure activity, may be a good preventive measure against cognitive aging among the elderly. Public health interventions to promote lifelong leisure-time physical activity, using advanced active video games (e.g., safe, pleasant, free-to-play, and cognitively stimulating smartphone games which can promote not only leisure activity but also physical activity), could have the potential to decrease personal and social burdens associated with cognitive decline/dementia in old age.