A surprising new study from the University of California San Francisco found that older adults ages 60-85 demonstrated improved brain function after playing a specially designed game, NeuroRacer. Seniors who participated in the study showed improvements in cognitive tasks including multitasking, attention, and memory.
This research is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the potential of apps to support healthy aging. For the first time in history, over one-half of seniors actively use the Internet. This number is only expected to expand as digital devices become commonplace in everyday life, even for older adults.
Today more seniors than ever are plugging in and using apps to not only keep in touch with friends and family, but also to stay healthy and mentally engaged. In fact, gaming company PopCap (maker of Bejeweled) found that out of over 150 million users, 47% percent of its users are older than age 50. The benefits are far ranging and include improved decision-making, visual recognition, and hand-eye coordination and also buffers against loneliness, which can lead to depression and physical decline.
Tablet devices, including Apple’s iPad and Android devices, are well positioned to take advantage of this trend. Light-weight bodies, larger screens, and a touch screen interface make tablets easier to see and manipulate, opening up new opportunities for the expansion of technology and apps geared towards seniors.
We want to hear from you: What’s your vote for the top apps on the market for boomers and seniors? Share your picks below!
