How video games stave off dementia

Playing a difficult game for the first time can feel like 'stretching' your brain, similar to exercising a muscle

Travellers stuck in traffic jams this bank holiday weekend, especially with children in tow, may resort to handheld video games when every I Spy answer has been guessed.

Luckily, playing video games may actually be very good for the brain - and may even stave off dementia symptoms in later life. This is because if you continue learning to do new things, whether studying a new language, completing sudoku puzzles or working out how to beat a cartoon monster, your brain seems to become better at switching to new ways of doing things and this may slightly delay the onset of some of the more distressing symptoms.