Dallas – A new brain‑training video game called Bird Watch is delivering promising results for seniors with mild cognitive impairment or early‑stage Alzheimer’s disease. Developed by a University of Texas at Dallas neuroscientist and his company NeuroFlight, the game was piloted in three Belmont Village Senior Living communities – two in Austin and one in Dallas – over a two‑month period.
How the game works
Players watch birds appear in random locations on a tablet screen and then answer simple questions, such as whether the current bird matches the one shown earlier. The tasks force users to focus, remember visual details and shift attention quickly, which researchers say stimulates gray‑matter growth in brain regions most affected by Alzheimer’s.
Positive response from residents and families
Joyce Mahoney, regional vice president of memory care at Belmont Village, said families and caregivers noticed marked improvements in memory and overall well‑being after the pilot. Residents began requesting extra play time, laughed together after sessions and engaged in more conversation. “When there’s a joy factor in activities, seniors are far more likely to stay active in the community,” Mahoney explained.
Quantitative and qualitative data collected during the trial showed gains in memory confidence, faster information recall, better task‑switching ability and reduced depressive symptoms. Family members reported sharper attention spans and more lively conversations, while caregivers observed fewer dementia‑related behavioral challenges, easing their stress.
Next steps
NeuroFlight is analyzing the pilot data and plans to publish the findings later this year. The company intends to roll the game out to additional nursing‑home partners and is also exploring a direct‑to‑consumer app version before the end of the year.
Patricia Will, founder and CEO of Belmont Village, expressed optimism that the study will add to the growing body of research on non‑invasive therapies for brain health. “We were very enthusiastic about the partnership and the results,” she said, noting the rewarding impact on residents and the broader community.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
