| Nintendo Wii games are like using a brain fitness | | | | There are many aging seniors that take |
| program to promote healthy aging. You flex your | | | | participating in the Wii programs very seriously. All |
| mental muscles as well as improve physical fitness | | | | over the country, there are now Nintendo Wii |
| at the same time. | | | | leagues for bowling, tennis, golf and the mind |
| Studies show that in 2008, 26 percent of aging | | | | academy. These activities improve the quality of |
| individuals over the age of 50 played video games. | | | | life and healthy aging for many seniors. |
| This is an increase of 9 percent from 1999, | | | | Physical fitness is a major element to healthy |
| according to release of data from the | | | | brain fitness. The challenging element to the Wii |
| Entertainment Software Association. | | | | program is the more you exercise, the more |
| Seniors centers all over the country are teaching | | | | challenging some of the programs become. This is |
| aging seniors how to play the bowling, golf, tennis | | | | important to a brain fitness program, as your |
| and boxing games. Many centers have college | | | | brain loves to be challenged. The increase |
| students or to teach the aging senior how to play | | | | challenges can strengthen the connections of the |
| the games. The aging seniors are not only | | | | brain to increase response time and improve |
| improving their physical fitness status, but they | | | | memory. |
| are flexing their mental muscles, socializing and | | | | The Nintendo Wii games will also flex your mental |
| having fun. All these are components of a good | | | | muscles in many other ways to promote brain |
| brain fitness program. | | | | fitness. Socialization and connecting with others is |
| More Wii Games: Brain Fitness Program to Healthy | | | | important to brain health and concentration. |
| Aging ... | | | | Healthy aging and a brain fitness program along |
| Nintendo Wii games are now being used by | | | | with the Wii promotes the development of new |
| hospitals and rehabilitation facilities because many | | | | skills, and helps aging seniors learn from their |
| of the games actually use the same movements | | | | mistakes. The best part of using the Wii as part |
| that would be used in traditional physical therapy. | | | | of a healthy aging program is the laughter and |
| Wii gives pleasure to those aging seniors as they | | | | excitement you see in the faces of the |
| do many activities they were not able to do | | | | participants. The environment is electric as the |
| when they were younger. | | | | aging seniors enjoy familiar interests in a new |
| Many aging seniors have lost the ability to pick up | | | | format. For many seniors it feels like old times |
| a bowling bowl, run on the tennis court, or | | | | again. The Wii games have brought back feelings |
| tolerate the length of time a good golf game | | | | of being young again as the participants flex their |
| takes. Loosing the ability to participate in these | | | | mental muscles and improve their physical fitness. |
| activities limits the life of an aging senior. The Wii | | | | The Wii is improving the quality of life of many |
| has changed that. | | | | aging seniors. |