Those who surf the internet in middle age can cut their risk of dementia in later life by more than half, a study has shown.
And the protective effect is more pronounced for those who use smartphones rather than computers.
Scientists think processing the vast amounts of information encountered online can benefit people’s brains, while social media use may help to combat loneliness – now recognised as one of the major risk factors for the condition.
Around 900,000 people in the UK suffer with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The number is expected to rise to 1.5million by 2040 because of an ageing population.
Doctors recommend regular exercise, a healthy diet and limited alcohol intake to protect against the illness.
An active social life and stimulating mental tasks – such as puzzles and crosswords – are also thought to help.
And using the internet could be added to the list of beneficial activities. Researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, began tracking more than 12,000 dementia-free people aged 45 or older in 2011.
They were assessed regularly to see how much time they spent on the internet, and for signs of dementia.
Those who surf the internet in middle age can cut their risk of dementia in later life by more than half, a new study has shown. (File image)
Around 900,000 people in the UK suffer with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. (File image)
The results, in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, showed that, over the following decade, only 2.2 per cent of regular internet users developed dementia, compared with 5.3 per cent of non-users.
And the preventative effect seemed slightly stronger with smartphones than laptops, possibly because they are used more often to access the web.
The findings back up results from an Australian study that found men over 70 who surf the web cut their Alzheimer’s risk by about 50 per cent.
In a report on the latest findings, researchers said: ‘Internet use has the potential to slow age-related cognitive decline. It may improve attention and psychomotor skills and enhance cognitive reserve.
‘Or it may be that there is a sense of belonging created by online activities.’