Internet: The New Dementia Deterrent?

Senior Adults on Computer

A recent study has suggested a potential link between consistent internet usage and a decreased risk of dementia. Findings indicated that regular internet users had roughly half the risk of developing dementia compared to infrequent users. This correlation was found to be consistent across different demographics such as educational level, race-ethnicity, sex, and generation. Virginia W. Chang, MD, PhD, of New York University, the study’s corresponding author, suggested that online engagement might stimulate and preserve cognitive reserve, thereby counteracting brain aging and reducing dementia risk.

Can internet usage help protect against dementia?

Consistent internet use may halve the risk of dementia, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The correlation remains irrespective of factors like education, race, sex, and generation.

New research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found a link between regular use of the internet and a lower risk of dementia.

For the study, investigators followed 18,154 dementia-free adults aged 50 to 64.9 years for a median of 7.9 years and a maximum of 17.1 years. During follow-up, 4.68% of participants were diagnosed with dementia.

Regular internet usage was associated with approximately half the risk of dementia compared with non-regular usage. This link was found regardless of educational attainment, race-ethnicity, sex, and generation.

“Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia,” said corresponding author Virginia W. Chang, MD, PhD, of New York University.

Reference: “Internet usage and the prospective risk of dementia: A population-based cohort study” 3 May 2023, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18394

1 Comment on "Internet: The New Dementia Deterrent?"

  1. Thank you for writing such a nice blog with useful information. I hope you will share some more info.

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