The Impact of a Brain Training Game (“Monica”) on Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Highlights- Monica is an empathetically designed brain training game for older adults.- The study shows trends of improved cognition and emotional quality of life.- High user satisfaction suggests good usability and acceptability.- The results support Monica’s potential for wider aging interventions.- Further randomized studies are needed to confirm efficacy. AbstractAs aging populations expand globally, digital tools like brain training games are gaining interest for their potential to maintain cognitive health. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effects of an empathetically designed game, 'Monica', on cognitive function, stress levels, and quality of life among older Thai adults. Forty-two participants (mean age 66.21; 83.3% female) engaged with the game over 8 weeks. Assessments using MMSE, ST-5, and SF-36 were conducted pre- and post-intervention. While statistical significance was limited, trends suggested improvement in cognitive scores, stress reduction, and select quality of life domains. These findings highlight the potential for serious games as accessible tools in elder care, though further studies with larger, randomized designs are warranted.