Game-based Training of Cognitive Functions: An Exploratory Study Involving Seniors in Switzerland

This exploratory study, conducted at SUPSI in Southern Switzerland, examines whether tablet-based serious games can support cognitive training for seniors. The authors developed six games targeting memory, attention, flexibility, and executive functions, and grounded their design in a participatory process involving ten adults aged 70 and older along with geriatric nurses. Interviews, usability tests, and a workshop served as the primary methods.

Participants described the games as engaging and usable, including those who had never used a tablet before. Their feedback shaped concrete refinements such as clearer icons, colour choices suited to older users and colour-blind users, and adjusted challenge levels. Seniors specifically requested a tutorial, which was incorporated alongside hint functions and automated performance logging that sends data to a secure server for caregiver monitoring. Each game draws on established clinical instruments, including Verbal Fluency, Corsi Block Tapping, and the Tower of London task.

The study's findings are qualitative and preliminary. The authors present the results as groundwork rather than evidence of effectiveness, and no usage or outcome study had been completed at the time of writing. The planned next phase is a 12-week data collection with 15 to 20 participants. The work's significance lies in its demonstration of a user-centred development process for senior-oriented cognitive training, addressing accessibility and acceptance concerns that often limit digital health tools for older adults.