Following summer reruns, game shows will be airing new episodes of your favorite shows this month.
Whether you’re watching contestants “come on” on “The Price is Right,” solving word puzzles with new host Ryan Seacrest on “Wheel of Fortune,” or testing your trivia skills against friends and family on “Jeopardy!”, the benefits you get go beyond entertainment.
Experts say that watching game shows can improve your problem-solving skills, improve your memory, and make you mentally stronger.
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We go into more detail about why watching game shows is more than just entertainment.
How do game shows boost mental health?
You may not realize it, but your mind is actually working and processing information as you interact with the game shows you’re watching.
Ken Jennings will host “Jeopardy!”. He will become the permanent host in December 2023. He holds the record for the longest winning streak on “Jeopardy!” with 74 consecutive wins. (Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)
“Game shows have many cognitively stimulating features that may lead to improved cognitive functioning,” said Glenn R. Finney, MD, FAAN, FAAN, Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
He also serves as director of the Memory and Cognitive Program at Geisinger Health in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
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He noted that game shows often require contestants and their at-home companions to pay close attention, quickly process the information provided for the game, and either solve problems or recall knowledge, or both, in order to answer the game show’s challenges.
Game shows often require contestants and viewers watching at home to pay close attention and quickly process the information provided in order to play.
“This activates many networks in the brain in an engaging and fun way, which also enhances learning,” Finney added.
Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest attend the WOF S42 – Pier Wheel Launch at Santa Monica Pier on August 30, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Philip Faraone/Getty Images, courtesy of CBS Media Ventures/Sony Pictures Television)
“We know that regularly engaging in challenging cognitive activities like this can boost your mental abilities.”
Can game shows improve your memory?
Watching game shows like “Jeopardy!” may help you access previously learned information.
“In fact, as we get older, we tend to retain long-term semantic memories and general knowledge that we learned previously,” said Ashley Curtis, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab at the University of South Florida College of Nursing in Tampa, Florida.
“What we lose as we get older is the ability to access this information quickly,” she said.
“What quiz shows like Jeopardy! can do is train and improve our ability to quickly access stored memory information, which could be useful in everyday life.” (iStock)
“What quiz shows like ‘Jeopardy!’ can do is train and improve our ability to quickly access stored memory information, which could be beneficial in everyday life, especially for older adults.”
How do game shows help your overall mood?
There’s also evidence that playing these types of game shows is known to improve cognitive skills, social interactions and lead to better overall mental health, Curtis said.
Watch with friends and family and connect via web chat while you play.
“The virtual, and sometimes in-person, social interactions and engagement that occur while playing these types of game shows have been shown to lead to better psychological well-being.” (iStock)
And if you live in an environment with others, such as a senior living facility, the shared interaction may also prove beneficial for your cognitive health.
“Certainly the virtual, and sometimes in-person, social interactions and engagement that occur while playing these types of game shows has been linked to better mental health,” Curtis told Fox News Digital.
What about intergenerational benefits?
For grandparents who play game shows with their grandchildren, or families who watch game shows together, “emerging evidence shows that playing video games together creates intergenerational engagement and may have several important benefits for both older and younger people,” Curtis noted.
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Curtis said this included “reduced anxiety and general feelings of loneliness, improved self-esteem and even increased physical activity levels.”
She noted that research on the cognitive benefits of such intergenerational interactions is limited, but said, “there is some emerging evidence to suggest that this activity may also lead to some improvements in more complex cognitive functions.”
“Research has shown that active, rather than passive, mental activity is most beneficial for our overall health.” (iStock)
“More rigorous studies need to be done in this area to conclusively determine the extent of these benefits,” she said.
What can be done to increase interest in game shows?
If you find a topic that interests you, such as American literature, on “Jeopardy!” or “The Price Is Right’s” “Showcase Showdown” piques your interest in traveling to Italy, consider researching that subject or destination in more depth.
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Find a classic book to read, research an Italian recipe, or learn about the culture of a new place.
“Keeping both your brain and body active is beneficial for your mental and physical health as you age.”
“Research shows that active mental activity, rather than passive mental activity, is most beneficial for our overall health,” Curtis told Fox News Digital.
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“So keeping both your brain and body active is beneficial for your mental and physical health as you age.”
Also, if a trip to a new place you saw on a TV game show is in your budget, plan that too.
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“While research in this area is still inconclusive, emerging evidence suggests that among older adults (those aged 65 and over), increased leisure travel may improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing dementia and depression,” she said.
