As part of our continued efforts in raising awareness towards CTE and its many degenerative and behavioural associations I reviewed research on computer games. In identifying research that proves the science behind why playing computer games can be form of recovery and treatment.
Contained within my own research I identified significant evidence to prove the area on which you take the repetitive head impact and or trauma can directly affect motor function, decision making, walking, balance, speaking. So, what can you do to take the fight to CTE and prevent it from overcoming your ability function? One avenue Is VGT or Video Game Therapy and a study that was conducted on 90 Finnish Neuro clinic patients, they established a gaming method of analysis where the patients were asked to have a go at specific gaming for at least 30 minutes a day for a period of 8 weeks.
The study actually indicates there is a positive association between gaming supporting recovery accredited here Video game training enhances cognition of older adults: a meta-analytic study – PubMed (nih.gov). Detailed analysis proves gaming improves core cognitive functions ranging from reaction time, attention, memory and global cognition whilst playing Super Mario which I understand to be some form of driving based game. Whilst I do not consider this game to be a perfect fit for achieving the best results towards cognitive recovery there are other games and gaming gaming platforms which could be better used to facilitate part of any recovery programme.
Should games therefore come with some form classification towards helping those who would purchase games and have no experience of buying such games and or devices for potential cognitive workout. The gaming platforms cater toward fighting back against CTE by way of neuroplasticity and using the gaming platform to help your neural pathways adapt and develop creative thinking, movement and problem solving. The WII which has been an amazing innovation towards a simple cost-effective solution is one system that has made significant inroads to developing hand eye coordination, such as the tennis, boxing, bowling racing games.
I am not suggesting in any way these should be games that could replace the real-life events, as I would say the real-life events such as bowling, hitting a boxing bag could just as easily improve recovery as much as the computer games. One article accredited here Digital Gaming for Improving the Functioning of People With Traumatic Brain Injury: Randomized Clinical Feasibility Study (nih.gov) . I would also suggest the use of VR technology when it comes to increasing your recovery rates, having recently watched Mark Zuckerberg using his oculus which at face value appears to do a variety of things, however my focus was drawn to his specific programme which involved using hand eye coordination and two handheld devices whilst listening to music and at the same time performing that hand eye coordination. There are other VR devices out on the market currently, but in my professional view this one product would be a must for any recovery programme. If you have not been diagnosed with the CTE or dementia related cognitive decline then there is every benefit in building up your neuroplasticity through using the right gaming platforms and or devices. You can see the device in action here Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s VR future: New sensors on Quest Pro, fitness and a metaverse for work – CNET
Please be advised I am not affiliated with nor have any joint venture with facebook or Mark Zuckerberg this is my professional opinion based on my own research and supported by other medical based data proving these methods will have benefit in the fight back against CTE.
There is further scientific data that proves dopamine can create reaction in us all that has a similar impact to that of a drug addict. In a study conducted by Nobel Laureate Arvid Carlsson’s in the 1950s he identified dopamine formed from an amino acid chemical called Tyrosine, dopamine forms a large neurotransmitter in the brain (one of 20) which sends chemicals around the brain to communicate with each other. As part of his ground-breaking study, he identified that people who have less amounts of dopamine in their brain have reduced ability to walk, move which includes other symptoms such as shaking and freezing like behaviour. As part of the study a drug called levodopa was created to stem the affects of this aspect of reduced dopamine in the brain leading to diagnosis of Parkinsons. The Levodopa as far as I understand only treats symptoms of Parkinsons and does NOT have any beneficial effect on the prevention of degeneration of brain cells.
Dopamine when released in the brain creates a chemical response reaction through the brain that creates an array of behavioural responses, it has been directly associated with behavioural drivers such as food, sex, social interaction. One article accredited here Dopamine in motivational control: rewarding, aversive, and alerting (nih.gov). How does this relate to CTE, there is a strong link between head trauma causing damage and or reduced dopamine response which in turn increases risk level of developing other degenerative disease or condition accredited here Dopaminergic abnormalities following traumatic brain injury | Brain | Oxford Academic (oup.com). Increasing your actual dopamine levels will assist your brain function across a range of areas such as the Hippocampus, striatum, and the frontal cortex article accredited here The potential roles of dopamine in traumatic brain injury: a preclinical and clinical update (nih.gov).
This in my view has to be taken into consideration for implementing your own computer game/phone-based brain workout. There is evidence that if overdone, it will cause long term adverse effects, and there is a finite line between playing for a health reason as opposed to playing a game for an addiction habit. In fact, the American society of Pediatrics conducted one study on the impacts of how long children should specifically be allowed on computer devices. Reviewed here digital devices | All AAP | AAP. As per this article here by the world-renowned Mayo clinic, Are video games and screens an addiction? – Mayo Clinic Health System if done in moderation it can achieve some great cognitive success in development of your child’s brain health.
So, what do you take away from this, I would hope that you cater for your own interaction with your phone based social media and the games accordingly, whilst also implementing your own games watch programme for seeing how your children interact online. If you have loved ones that have a form of one or more of the degenerative diseases listed above, then I would ask you consider implementing your own game watch programme for that relative in line with the science above, you could as an example facilitate 30 minutes a day for 8 weeks and see if the results improve the persons behaviour and or response.
Science and technology revolutionise our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response- Arthur Schlesinger