Effect of Exergames on Balance and Cognition Within People With Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Gregory Solomovich
Stuyvesant High School, Manhattan, USA
Publication date: July 25, 2025
Stuyvesant High School, Manhattan, USA
Publication date: July 25, 2025
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/JIYRC2025I24
ABSTRACT
Currently, in the world, there are almost 10 million people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Exergames, digital games that require physical movements to play, have recently gained popularity as a possible treatment for symptoms of PD, but the significance of their effects is uncertain. This systematic review aims to evaluate whether exergames are an effective treatment for PD by analyzing their impact on balance and cognition within people with PD. The scientific databases Google Scholar and PubMed were browsed to find relevant studies, in which only 13 out of the 153 studies screened were included in the review. Upon completion of the review, it was found that exergames, in a few cases significantly, improved both balance and cognition within people with PD according to a variety of measurement scales. Exergames significantly improved the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores and the increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in people with PD. Although a few of the results were significant, exergames tended to have a greater positive effect on balance and cognition than traditional exercise treatments. One significant result was that exergames increased the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) of people with PD more than a conventional treatment. Overall, exergames show a promising alternative for combating symptoms of PD that is both more engaging and more effective. Since most of the results were insignificant, the effectiveness of exergames remains inconclusive and requires more research to uncover.
Currently, in the world, there are almost 10 million people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Exergames, digital games that require physical movements to play, have recently gained popularity as a possible treatment for symptoms of PD, but the significance of their effects is uncertain. This systematic review aims to evaluate whether exergames are an effective treatment for PD by analyzing their impact on balance and cognition within people with PD. The scientific databases Google Scholar and PubMed were browsed to find relevant studies, in which only 13 out of the 153 studies screened were included in the review. Upon completion of the review, it was found that exergames, in a few cases significantly, improved both balance and cognition within people with PD according to a variety of measurement scales. Exergames significantly improved the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores and the increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in people with PD. Although a few of the results were significant, exergames tended to have a greater positive effect on balance and cognition than traditional exercise treatments. One significant result was that exergames increased the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) of people with PD more than a conventional treatment. Overall, exergames show a promising alternative for combating symptoms of PD that is both more engaging and more effective. Since most of the results were insignificant, the effectiveness of exergames remains inconclusive and requires more research to uncover.
