Problem-Solving and Lifelong Learning: Engineering Students versus Retired Engineers with Dementia

Games are being introduced to those born into the Silent and Baby Boomers Generation as a form of occupational therapy and as a way to keep mentally active and challenged. This work hypothesized that the retired engineer with dementia could complete challenges of different complexities from their memories and skills practiced throughout their lives. There were four methodological steps: (i) performance in the Bridge Construction Simulator game, (ii) bridge indication for real situations, (iii) learning in the new game, and (iv) analysis of the previous steps. The sample groups were two: (i) engineering students in the last season of Brazilian universities, and (ii) retired engineers diagnosed with dementia. The hypothesis was accepted. The group of retirees initially took a while to understand the game's logic, but in the end, they completed the levels with fewer attempts than the group of students.