Research shows that surfing the Internet in middle age can reduce the risk of dementia later in life by more than half
Research shows that those who surf the internet in middle age can reduce their risk of dementia later in life by more than half.
And the protective effect is greater for those who use smartphones than computers.
Scientists think processing the vast amounts of information we encounter online could benefit people’s brains, while using social media could help combat loneliness – now recognized as one of the main risk factors for the condition.
Around 900,000 people in Britain suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This number is expected to rise to 1.5 million by 2040 due to an aging population.
Doctors recommend regular exercise, a healthy diet and limited alcohol intake to protect against the disease.
An active social life and encouraging mental tasks – such as puzzles and crosswords – would also help.
And using the Internet can be added to the list of useful activities. Researchers from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, started following more than 12,000 dementia-free people aged 45 or older in 2011.
They were regularly assessed on the amount of time they spent on the internet and for signs of dementia.
Those who surf the internet in middle age can reduce their risk of dementia later in life by more than half, a new study has shown. (File image)
Around 900,000 people in Britain suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. (File image)
The results, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, showed that over the next decade, only 2.2 percent of regular internet users developed dementia, compared to 5.3 percent of non-users.
And the preventive effect seemed slightly stronger with smartphones than with laptops, possibly because they are used more often to access the internet.
The findings support the results of an Australian study that found that men over 70 who surf the Internet reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by about 50 percent.
In a report on the latest findings, researchers say: ‘Internet use has the potential to slow age-related cognitive decline. It can improve attention and psychomotor skills and increase cognitive reserve.
‘Or it could be that a sense of connection is created through online activities.’