BoardBuzz was interested to read that playing games actually improves the cognitive functions of older people. So indicates the results of a study by the University of Illinois’ department of psychology. We always figured that crossword puzzles or Sudoku could give the brain a boost, but this new study shows that playing a strategy game does as well.

A group of 40 people aged 60+ were subjected to almost 24 hours of the real-time strategycalled Rise of Nations. The group then exhibited notable improvements in a number of cognitive tests compared to a control group who did not play the game.

“As a group, the gamers became significantly better — and faster — at switching between tasks as compared to the comparison group,” the study reports.

“Their working memory, as reflected in the tests, was also significantly improved. Their reasoning ability was enhanced. To a lesser extent, their short-term memory of visual cues was better than that of their peers, as was their ability to identify rotated objects.”

The findings are meaningful, said postdoctoral researcher Chandramallika Basak, lead author on the study, because they show that multi-dimensional training can affect many individual components of cognitive function. BoardBuzz has written before on gaming and education here, here, here, here, and here. Do you have an idea on how to leverage gaming in education? Let us know.