Level Up Your Wellness: The Surprising Benefits of Gaming

“The gamified application utilizes the strengths of this demographic in visual-spatial learning and detail recognition,” Lee mentioned. 

As a component of the game, participants journey to renowned cities around the globe, and by reaching specific step thresholds, they reveal additional puzzles, effectively challenging the notion that gaming leads to inactivity. 

In a preliminary study financed by the donor-established Maggie E. Neumann Health Sciences Research Fund, which focuses on research and innovation to uplift the lives of individuals with disabilities, numerous autistic adults from various regions compete to see their names featured on a leaderboard and reap tangible incentives. The top 10 performers can receive rewards, with leaderboard scores reset automatically at the conclusion of each month to promote ongoing physical activity participation among users. Individuals achieving 10,000 steps daily for a month might earn a $65 gift card for Amazon. 

Pagan takes pleasure in checking the leaderboard each day. 

“I’m very competitive,” Pagan stated. “Seeing others walk daily encourages me to increase my steps and solve additional puzzles to surpass them.” 

Nevertheless, Lee indicated that initial data suggests the competitive element does not resonate with all participants.

“A universal solution doesn’t exist,” Lee noted. “We’ve observed that older autistic individuals often shy away from this type of intervention due to challenges involving technology.”

However, 55-year-old Laura Willey from Northern Virginia found the experience different. 

“There was no learning curve. PuzzleWalk was straightforward,” she shared. 

Willey does not regard herself as a gamer, yet she continually seeks motivation to remain active — aside from walking her dogs.  

“It has been enjoyable,” she expressed. “It introduced an exciting new way to connect and compete with others.” 

Upcoming Plans

Lee intends to apply for a competitive Small Business Innovation Research grant to bring PuzzleWalk to market, with assistance from UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships. 

“The Neumann funding expedited our research, and initiating this initial phase of the study would have been difficult without this essential support,” Lee remarked.

Lee also aims to widen the app’s audience by partnering with colleagues at the University of Kansas Medical Center, which specializes in caring for individuals with Down syndrome. 

“We have just submitted an R21 grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health to evaluate if the app can be adapted for those with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities,” Lee added. 

If the findings from the current pilot study indicate statistically significant advancements in physical activity among autistic adults, Lee plans to initiate a more extensive clinical trial. Otherwise, the app will undergo modifications. However, so far, feedback from exit interviews suggests the app exhibits potential. 

“It motivated me to carve out an hour from my day to walk. Even late at night, when I was inclined to sleep, I’d walk and engage in more puzzles if I hadn’t hit my 5,000-step milestone,” Pagan shared. “It doesn’t feel like typical exercise, but every step matters.”

Lee appreciates this feedback.

“Our goal is to ensure this demographic has a voice and that their feedback informs future variations of the intervention,” Lee stated. “We do not seek to replace conventional exercise or physical activity but rather to diversify the options for individuals who may encounter obstacles in accessing benefits from their environment due to accessibility or resource challenges.”

Lia McNulty, a doctoral candidate in the health behavior science and promotion program, manages the study and gathers valuable insights from participants. She has experience working as a counselor for children with disabilities throughout high school and college, but this is her inaugural experience working with autistic adults.

“This is a vital population I’m eager to support,” McNulty expressed. “Autistic adults have been under-researched, and merging my interest in promoting physical activity with a group that requires it has proven fascinating and fulfilling.” 

She also finds the incorporation of technology in this study innovative. 

“Technology offers limitless possibilities to enhance lives, and individuals on the autism spectrum often possess a natural affinity toward it; therefore, I am keen on discovering new methods to utilize that for health promotion,” McNulty stated. 

This is also the first experience for research assistant Swetha Kathiravan working with autistic adults. She completed the neuroscience 4+1 (B.S./M.S.) program at UD’s College of Arts and Sciences last year and brings considerable experience with autistic children.

“As an undergraduate at UD, I volunteered with UNICEF, Nemours, and in schools, reinforcing my passion for pediatrics,” Kathiravan mentioned. “However, through this research, Dr. Lee has introduced a fresh and significant perspective: these children mature and require support.” 

About the Fund

The Maggie E. Neumann Health Sciences Research Fund was founded in 2020 to support research aimed at enhancing health and quality of life outcomes for both children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. While the fund is hosted within the College of Health Sciences, its intent is to encourage interdisciplinary inquiry across all UD colleges.

The research fund was initiated with a donation from Donald J. Puglisi and Marichu C. Valencia in honor of their granddaughter, Maggie E. Neumann. Puglisi serves on UD’s Board of Trustees, and they both participate on the President’s Leadership Council.