Elderly Japanese prisoners are playing Nintendo DS to help combat dementia

Games aren’t just for fun — they can have serious applications, too.

A group of elderly prisoners in Oita Prison, Japan, are using Nintendo DS consoles to help keep their brains in shape. Dementia is a serious issue at the prison, where 21 percent of the inmates are over 65, reports Siliconera. As prison populations worldwide get older, gaming is one way to help keep prisoners mentally active despite their incarceration.