Experts claim that viewing game shows such as 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' can positively impact cognitive health.

This month, new episodes of your favorite game shows will be aired after the summer reruns.

Watching "The Price Is Right," solving puzzles on "Wheel of Fortune," and competing in trivia on "Jeopardy!" can provide more than just entertainment.

Experts claim that participating in game shows can enhance your problem-solving abilities, improve memory retention, and fortify your mental capabilities.

Watching game shows is not just for entertainment; it has numerous benefits.

How do game shows boost mind health?

When you engage with game shows, your brain is actively working and processing information.

According to Glen R. Finney, M.D., FAAN, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, game shows possess cognitively stimulating elements that can potentially improve cognitive abilities.

He is also the director of the Memory and Cognition Program at Geisinger Health in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Contestants and viewers of game shows must pay close attention, quickly process information, and either problem-solve or recall knowledge to answer the task.

Game shows often require contestants and those playing along at home to pay close attention and to quickly process information provided for the game.

Finney stated that this activity stimulates multiple brain networks, making it both entertaining and effective in enhancing learning.

"Engaging in regular cognitive activities that challenge you can enhance mental sharpness."

Can game shows boost memory acuity?

"Jeopardy!" and other game shows can aid in recalling previously acquired information.

According to Ashley Curtis, PhD, a professor at the University of South Florida, as we age, we tend to retain long-term semantic memory or general knowledge that we previously learned.

As we age, our ability to quickly access information declines, she stated.

"Games like "Jeopardy!" can enhance the ability to retrieve stored memory information more rapidly, which can be advantageous in daily life, especially for older adults."

How can game shows help overall mood?

According to Curtis, playing along with game shows can enhance cognitive and social engagement, which is linked to improved mental health.

You can play with friends and family or connect through a webchat while watching.

Engaging in shared interactions with others, even if you live in a residential facility for older adults, can positively impact your cognitive health.

According to Curtis, engaging in virtual and potentially in-person shared social interactions while playing game shows has been linked to improved psychological well-being.

What about intergenerational benefits?

Engaging in game shows with grandchildren or as a family may have significant benefits for both older and younger individuals, according to Curtis.

Curtis stated that there were decreases in anxiety and feelings of loneliness, improvements in self-esteem, and higher levels of physical activity.

She acknowledged that while there is limited research on the cognitive benefits of intergenerational interactions, some emerging evidence suggests that this activity can enhance more complex cognitive functions.

To conclusively determine the range of these benefits, more rigorous research is needed in this area, she stated.

What can you do to augment your game-show interest?

If you are fascinated by a topic on "Jeopardy!" or a destination in "The Price Is Right," explore it further.

Explore new cultures, research Italian recipes, or find a classic book to read.

"Keeping both your brain and body active is beneficial to our mental and physical health as we age."

According to Curtis, research indicates that active mental activity is more advantageous for our overall health than passive mental activity.

"Maintaining both mental and physical activity as we age benefits our overall health."

If you have the financial means, plan to travel to new places you see on TV game shows.

As she stated, although the research in this area is still inconclusive, there is some emerging evidence suggesting that in older adults (aged 65 and up), increased levels of leisure travel can promote better cognitive functioning and decrease the risk of developing dementia as well as depression.