Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo have explored how playing video games may support adults living with multiple sclerosis. The investigation appears in a peer reviewed journal focused on cognitive enhancement, presented to a broad scientific audience interested in brain health and rehabilitation.
Multiple sclerosis is a long term autoimmune condition that targets the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin coating around nerve fibers, causing inflammation and damage. This disruption in neural communication can lead to a spectrum of symptoms such as persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, balance and coordination challenges, visual changes, and fluctuations in thinking and memory.
The researchers described cognitive reserve training as a way for people with MS to better manage the disease’s impact. Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s capacity to adapt and discover alternative pathways to maintain function when primary neural routes are affected.
There is a growing view in the scientific community that structured video game play could bolster cognitive reserve. This idea aligns with evidence showing games can exercise memory, attention, problem solving, and processing speed through engaging and adaptable tasks.
In the study, 42 individuals with MS participated, with an average age in the mid forties. Among them, about half reported regular video game play in the three months preceding the study, while the remainder did not engage in gaming on a consistent basis.
Follow up assessments indicated that participants who regularly played video games demonstrated stronger overall cognitive performance. Specific gains were noted in executive functions such as planning and task management, improvements in short term memory, enhanced visual spatial skills, and gains in verbal learning ability. These patterns held even when researchers adjusted for age, time since MS onset, and baseline cognitive capacity.
Moreover, the data suggested that the amount of time spent gaming could be a meaningful predictor of cognitive outcomes, sometimes more informative than other factors historically linked to cognitive reserve enhancement. In other words, greater gaming exposure correlated with better cognitive performance across several domains.
The findings add to a growing body of research indicating that cognitively engaging activities can support neurological resilience in MS. While the study does not imply that gaming is a cure, it points to a potential, accessible tool that may complement existing medical and rehabilitative strategies. Clinicians and researchers emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate games that balance challenge with practicality, and of monitoring fatigue and mood to ensure sustainable benefits for individuals living with MS.
In summary, regular video game play may offer meaningful cognitive benefits for adults with multiple sclerosis by reinforcing executive functions, memory, and learning processes. The approach fits within broader efforts to use engaging, nonpharmacological activities to support brain health and daily functioning in MS and other conditions. This line of inquiry continues to evolve as researchers seek to identify which games, durations, and routines yield the most reliable gains for different individuals. [Further attribution: ongoing MS cognitive health literature, review articles, and clinical observations]