Elon Musk shared a study on X with the quip “Play video games or be dumb,” drawing attention to research of 923 adults that compared frequent, infrequent and non-gamers. The study found frequent gamers outperformed non-gamers on short-term memory, reasoning, processing speed and an overall cognitive composite, while gaming showed no link to verbal performance. Meeting WHO exercise guidelines (≥150 minutes/week) was associated with fewer depression and anxiety symptoms but not with cognitive-test benefits. Researchers stressed the findings are associative and called for longitudinal studies to test causation.
Elon Musk Says “Play Video Games or Be Dumb” — Study of 923 Adults Finds Gamers Outperform Non-Gamers on Memory, Reasoning and Processing Speed
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD, USA — February 20 2025: Elon Musk speaks with Newsmax Host Rob Schmitt on day 1 of the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference. (Credit: Image via Shutterstock)
Elon Musk sparked conversation on X (formerly Twitter) on September 14, 2026, when he posted, "Play video games or be dumb! Those are your only 2 choices 😂," linking to a recent study that examined links between video gaming, physical activity, cognitive performance and mental health.
Key Study Findings
Researchers analyzed data from 923 adults to compare frequent gamers, infrequent gamers and non-gamers across a battery of cognitive tests. The study found that frequent gamers produced the strongest results overall: they outperformed non-gamers on measures of short-term memory, reasoning, processing speed and a composite measure of cognitive performance. Infrequent gamers also scored higher than non-gamers on short-term memory tasks. Gaming showed no significant association with verbal performance.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
The study reported a different pattern for physical exercise. Participants who met the World Health Organization guideline of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, meeting that exercise threshold was not significantly linked to the cognitive measures evaluated in this research.
Caveats and Limitations
Correlation, Not Causation: The authors emphasized that these results indicate association rather than proof that playing video games directly improves cognitive ability. The data are cross-sectional, so reverse causation or unmeasured confounding factors (for example, education, socioeconomic status, or baseline cognitive ability) could explain some differences.
Unspecified Game Types and Self-Report: The study did not isolate effects by game genre in detail, and some measures (like gaming frequency and exercise) may rely on participants' self-reports, which can introduce measurement error.
The researchers recommended longer-term, controlled studies to determine causation and to clarify which types of gaming, durations, or gaming-related activities might drive any observed cognitive benefits.
Context: Musk and Gaming
Musk has a long-standing public interest in video games. He sold a game he created at age 12 and has repeatedly discussed gaming in interviews and on social media. In 2024 he claimed a spot among the world’s top Diablo IV players, and an image shared on X later placed him at No. 19 on a leaderboard.
What This Means
These results add to a growing body of research that finds links between gaming and certain cognitive skills, particularly processing speed and visuospatial memory. They do not establish that gaming is a substitute for other healthy behaviors, nor that it will benefit everyone equally. Both cognitive activities (like certain video games) and physical exercise may contribute to brain health in different ways.
Note: This article originally included sponsored investment promotions unrelated to the study; those have been removed to focus on the research and context.
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