In a groundbreaking population-based cohort study, researchers have shed light on the relationship between internet usage and the risk of dementia among older adults. The study, which followed more than 18,000 individuals aged 50 to 64.9 years, found compelling evidence supporting the cognitive benefits of regular internet use.

Limited knowledge exists regarding the long-term effects of internet usage on the cognitive abilities of older adults. Gawon Cho et al. sought to examine the connection between different aspects of internet usage and the development of dementia. Monitoring of adults who were initially free of dementia, for a maximum period of 17.1 years (with a median of 7.9 years) was done using data from the Health and Retirement Study. The cause-specific Cox models were analyzed to examine the connection between the time until dementia onset and the participants' internet usage at the beginning of the study. The models for delayed entry and other factors were adjusted.

Moreover, it was investigated whether the interaction between internet use and education, race-ethnicity, generation, and gender had any influence. Additionally, it was examined whether the risk of dementia varied based on the cumulative duration of regular internet usage, to determine if starting or continuing internet use in old age influenced the subsequent risk. Lastly, the association was explored between the risk of dementia and the number of daily hours spent using the internet.

Among the 18,154 adults included in the study, regular internet usage was linked with approximately half the risk of developing dementia compared to non-regular usage, with a cause-specific hazard ratio (CHR) of 0.57 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.46–0.71. This link remained significant even after adjusting for self-selection biases in baseline internet usage (CHR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.41–0.72) and indications of cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study (CHR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.46–0.85).

The difference in dementia risk between regular and non-regular internet users did not vary considerably based on educational attainment, race-ethnicity, generation, or gender. Furthermore, additional periods of regular internet usage were linked to a notable reduction in dementia risk (CHR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68–0.95). But, the analysis of daily hours of internet usage indicated a U-shaped relationship with the incidence of dementia. The lowest risk was noted among adults who used the internet for 0.1 to 2 hours per day, although the estimates were not statistically significant owing to small sample sizes.  To summarize, individuals who regularly use the internet had approximately a 50% lower risk of suffering from dementia compared to those who did not use it regularly.

Prolonged regular internet usage in late adulthood was linked with delayed cognitive decline, although further evidence is required to evaluate any potential negative effects of excessive use. As the world becomes increasingly digital, these findings may encourage older adults to embrace technology and take advantage of the internet's potential cognitive benefits. Harnessing the power of the online world could play a crucial role in promoting healthy cognitive aging and lowering the burden of dementia in older populations.