Seniors who regularly use the internet have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, according to a study by the New York University. The study analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study and the Social Security Administration, focusing on a group of 18,154 people aged 50 to 65 who did not show signs of dementia at the beginning of the research period. The participants were followed for about eight years, during which they were asked biennially whether they used the internet routinely for communication, online shopping, information gathering, or booking travel. The analysis of the data showed that those who used the internet regularly at the beginning of the study had a 43% lower risk of developing dementia than those who rarely or never used it.
The study suggests that the internet helps seniors develop and maintain cognitive reserves, which can offset brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia. Interestingly, the analysis found that factors such as education level, gender, and ethnicity did not have a direct correlation with dementia risk in relation to internet use. However, the study did find that the lowest risk of dementia was among those who spent between 0.1 and 2 hours online daily. Those who spent more than two hours online did not show the same protective effect, suggesting that longer internet use may have adverse effects on dementia risk.
While the study is important in identifying another potentially modifiable factor that could affect dementia risk, experts caution against overinterpreting the results. The data does not allow for a causal relationship to be established, and further research is needed to confirm the findings. Nevertheless, the study highlights the potential benefits of internet use for seniors in maintaining cognitive health and reducing the risk of dementia.
