Effects of Serious Games on Memory Improvement in Older Adults Without Obvious Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Serious games have been integrated into health care, but their effectiveness in enhancing memory among old adults is not yet unanimously determined. This study aimed to analyze the effect of serious games on memory improvement in older adults without obvious cognitive impairment. We searched six electronic databases. All eligible randomized controlled trials were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the effect size using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 18 studies were included in the systematic review and 16 were in the meta-analysis. Serious games had a significant effect on memory (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22–0.47; P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, serious games were categorized into two types: cognitive training games (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26–0.58; P < 0.001) and exergames (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.01–0.43; P = 0.04). Memory was categorized into three types: visuospatial working memory (SMD = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.54–1.00; P < 0.001), verbal memory (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.08–0.61; P = 0.01), and working memory (SMD = 0.09, 95% CI: −0.09 to 0.27; P = 0.35). There were two types of control groups: the blank control (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15–0.54; P < 0.001) and the active control (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.51; P < 0.001). Serious games can improve memory among older adults without obvious cognitive impairment, with varying effects on different memory types.