For decades, we’ve been told that exercise is the ultimate ticket to a sharper mind. From health professionals to fitness gurus, the message has been clear if you want to stay mentally fit, stay physically active. However, new research throws a surprising curveball into this long-held belief: playing video games might do more for your brainpower than regular exercise.

According to a study led by Professor Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist at Western University in Canada, gaming offers significant cognitive benefits, while exercise, although good for mental health, doesn’t seem to improve memory, attention, or reasoning skills. This revelation, published in the online portal PsyArXiv, challenges the widely held assumption that physical activity enhances cognitive function.

Owen’s research included 1,000 adults, ranging from 18 to 87 years old, who were asked to fill out surveys regarding their health, lifestyle, and time spent playing video games. The participants also took brain tests designed to measure key cognitive functions, including memory, learning, attention, and perception. Alongside, the survey considered factors like education level, employment status, and physical activity, providing a comprehensive view of how both video gaming and exercise impact mental faculties.

The results were nothing short of surprising. Gamers consistently outperformed non-gamers in several cognitive areas. Those who played video games for five or more hours a week had cognitive skills comparable to individuals 13.7 years younger who didn’t play video games. Even those who engaged with video games less frequently (under five hours per week) still demonstrated a noticeable cognitive boost, performing like individuals 5.2 years younger.

However, the real shock came when the effects of regular exercise were measured. The study showed that 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (recommended by the NHS for general health) did little to enhance cognitive function. While exercise did have a positive impact on mental health, reducing the likelihood of depression and anxiety, it failed to improve memory, attention, or reasoning skills, the way gaming did.

So, what makes video games so effective at boosting brain function? The answer lies in the nature of the games themselves. Modern video games are highly engaging and strategic, requiring players to develop a wide array of cognitive skills to succeed. Games like Minecraft, Civilization, and The Witcher involve complex problem-solving, attention to detail, and strategic thinking, which may explain why gamers exhibit enhanced cognitive performance.

Professor Owen explains that today’s video games are far more challenging and immersive than earlier brain-training games, which often failed to deliver lasting cognitive benefits. Instead, games now require players to react quickly, make split-second decisions, and juggle multiple tasks at once. This constant mental engagement may lead to long-term improvements in areas such as memory, attention, and visual processing.

Moreover, video games activate the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and learning. This chemical process may also have lasting effects on cognition, contributing to the superior mental performance observed in frequent gamers. Essentially, gaming trains the brain by making learning and problem-solving fun, and the rewards built into the gaming experience encourage players to keep sharpening their skills.

In contrast, regular exercise didn’t show the same cognitive benefits in Owen’s study. This finding was particularly surprising given the widespread belief that physical activity enhances brain function. After all, the World Health Organization recommends exercise as a way to boost both physical and mental health, including cognition.

So why didn’t the study find evidence of cognitive improvements from exercise? One possibility is that the long-term effects of moderate exercise such as those observed in this study differ from the short-term mental boost many people feel after a workout. While a brisk walk or a session at the gym might leave you feeling more focused and alert in the short term, Owen’s research suggests that the long-term cognitive benefits may not be as pronounced as once thought.

Still, exercise isn’t without its advantages. The study found that those who didn’t meet NHS physical activity recommendations were twice as likely to suffer from depression and 1.5 times more likely to experience generalized anxiety. So, while exercise might not make you smarter, it can certainly make you feel better, reducing the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

As Professor Owen and his colleagues continue to investigate the relationship between lifestyle choices and cognitive health, this study raises important questions about how we can best promote mental sharpness as we age. Could video games be part of the solution?

Owen believes that these findings could lead the way for a better understanding of how different activities impact cognitive aging. He notes that the type of video games people play matters. Puzzle games like Minecraft and Civilization require a different set of mental skills compared to action-packed games like Grand Theft Auto or Assassin’s Creed. In the future, tailored gaming experiences might become a tool to help combat cognitive decline in older adults, allowing them to maintain sharper memory, attention, and reasoning skills well into their senior years.

Additionally, Owen hints at the possibility of using video games in conjunction with other cognitive therapies to create a more holistic approach to mental fitness. While exercise may not significantly impact cognition on its own, combining it with mental challenges like video gaming or other stimulating activities could still offer a well-rounded approach to healthy aging.

This research marks a new chapter in our understanding of how different lifestyle choices affect cognitive health. For years, we’ve been told that exercise is the best way to maintain both physical and mental well-being. While it’s still clear that staying active is vital for mental health and mood, this study shows that we need to rethink our approach to boosting cognition.

Video games, once seen as a bad hobby, may in fact hold the key to maintaining a sharper mind as we age. The study’s findings challenge outdated notions about what it means to keep our brains healthy, and they suggest that the right kinds of video games could become an essential tool for promoting cognitive longevity.

As Owen prepares to present this research at the Manchester Science Festival, it’s clear that we’re only beginning to uncover the potential of video games as a cognitive enhancer. Moving forward, we may see a shift in how health professionals recommend activities for maintaining brain health, with video gaming becoming a respected part of the conversation.

For gamers, this is a moment of validation. Far from being a waste of time, gaming might just be one of the best ways to keep your brain in top shape. As Professor Owen puts it, the key to maintaining mental sharpness could be as simple as picking up a controller.

While the debate between gaming and exercise continues, it’s important to recognize that both have their benefits. Exercise may not make you smarter, but it keeps your mental health in check. On the other hand, video games offer an unexpected cognitive boost that could help stave off age-related decline.

The real takeaway from this study is that our understanding of what keeps the brain healthy is evolving. For those looking to stay mentally sharp, it might be time to strike a balance between traditional physical exercise and activities like gaming that challenge the mind in new and exciting ways. The future of cognitive health is not just about staying active, it’s also about staying engaged, and video games may be one of the best ways to do just that.