When middle age comes along there are just two options. Pop a vitamin pill or exercise. Now there seems to be a third option, though. Play a video game. Who knows a futuristic doctor might prescribe playing a video game rather than popping a pill!

A huge number of baby boomers are turning to video games in a quest to ease the body and mind. Not only are video games fun, but they also relieve stress, increase mental agility even help you socialize and give you a dose of healthy exercise.

A study even goes so far as to suggest that heart conditions that exacerbate due to stress may be treated through video games. The gaming industry aims at increasing casual games and not just virtual sports games. Casual games are games like Nintendo’s Brain Age series and Bookworm.

Math problems, reading and puzzles are included in such games. In his book “Essentials of Smart Parenting”, Carl Arinoldo talks about the benefits of casual video games in connection with stress management. They result in better focus, concentration, problem solving and decision making according to Arinoldo.
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In Washington D.C. there is a “Games for Health Project” They focus on just that area - games for health. In their fourth annual conference they shared information about the impact of games on health care and health policy. A lot of money is being spent on research on games and health. Games are played nowadays, not just on your Wii or PS3 but also on ordinary mobile phones and the Blackberry. Lets drink to health, uh no, lets play videogames to it!