Billionaire Elon Musk sparked a debate online over video gaming after sharing a 2025 study and saying, “play video games or stay dumb.” But the study itself suggests the relationship between gaming, exercise, mental health and brain function is more complicated.
The 2025 study examined the relationship between physical activity, video-game playing, cognitive performance and mental health. Researchers found that people who met physical-activity recommendations tended to report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, while people who spent more time playing video games tended to perform better on several cognitive tests.
But there is an important catch: the study shows associations, not proof that gaming makes people smarter or that exercise directly prevents depression and anxiety.
