Ninety-year-old Japanese 'obaachan' Hamako Mori holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's oldest gaming YouTuber. Dubbed by her 250,000 YouTube followers as 'Gamer Grandma,' she told reporters that 'Grand Theft Auto' was one of her favorite game series.
Mori launched her YouTube channel back in 2015 and posts various videos at least four times a month. Most of her videos are of her showcasing her gaming skills, while some are videos of her unboxing gaming items such as consoles.
Mori says she has a comprehensive collection of consoles over the decades. She recalls the Cassette Vision as being the first one she owned after it was released in Japan on July 30, 1981.
Gamer Grandma displays her excellent sense of humor in her videos, as she entitled one of her videos, "Elder plays Elder Scrolls V Skyrim". Just like any other kid addicted to gaming, Mori admits that she sometimes ends up playing until 2 A.M.
She jokingly said that playing video games looked like so much fun and that it wasn't fair that only children got to play them.
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Are There any Benefits in Playing Video Games?
According to studies, there are, actually. The American Psychological Association wrote in a review that playing video games could provide learning, health, social benefits.
Although playing video games are often perceived as a pastime for lazy individuals, positive effects of playing video games do exist, especially in four main domains: cognitive, motivational, emotional, and social.
According to the review, playing video games could also help children develop problem-solving skills. Moreover, the more adolescents reported playing strategic video games, like role-playing games, the more they excelled in problem-solving and overall school academic performance the year after, according to a long-term study published in 2013.
Another study published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology also showed the benefits of video game training on emotional and cognitive skills concerning the healthy adult population.
The research used 35 studies from different databases to gather information on the effects of gaming on individuals.
The Importance of Proactive Aging
The Association of Healthcare Journalists writes that there are two types of aging: normal aging and active aging. Active aging allows an older adult to regain control of the aging process by remaining engaged in all aspects of life and by keeping a healthy lifestyle.
The International Council on Active Aging says that we can change the way we age by staying as active as we possibly can. It's both a movement and a life plan.
The council adds that active aging isn't just about exercise or healthy eating.
Contributing to one's own families, communities, and peer groups and participating in various activities can help keep older adults alert. Furthermore, it will also allow them to enjoy a productive elderly life.
The World Health Organization also notes that active aging allows people to recognize their potential for social, physical, and mental well-being throughout the life course. It also allows them to participate in society while giving them adequate security, protection, and care whenever they desire and need it.
