An article out of the site Live Science reports an interesting-fun study of the benefits that Parkinson’s patients may have by playing video games on the hugely popular Nintendo Wii.
Playing virtual sports on the Nintendo Wii, an interactive video game console that makes players feel like they’re actually playing the sport, improved the mood and physical function of Parkinson’s disease in a new preliminary study.
It was an 8-week study where the patients played Wii sporting games such as tennis and bowling three times a week. The study came back with surprising and promising results.
Participants showed significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels, Herz said today at the fifth annual Games for Health Conference today in Boston…Studies have shown that exercise and video games independently can increase the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter deficient in Parkinson’s patients. He suspects that’s the case with the Wii’s exercise effect. Dopamine also helps improve voluntary, functional movements, which Parkinson’s patients “use or lose, Dr. Herz says. pressively, most participants’ depression levels decreased to zero, he said.
Parkinson’s disease is such a tragic disease with the victims often needing long term care at some point down the road. Any non-invasive methods of therapy that can help are welcome in a country of medication only medical treatment trends. At LTCtree we try to stay on the cutting edge of diseases that result in needing long term care so check back with us in the future. If you’d like to learn more about long term care insurance take a moment to simply fill in this form.
