2023-05-12 21:02:09
More than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, according to the WHO. Each year, nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed. Dementia can be caused by different diseases that destroy nerve cells and damage the brain, causing cognitive function to deteriorate.
Although there is no direct treatment to prevent dementia, certain habits can help reduce the risk, such as eating magnesium-rich foods or taking vitamin D regularly. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, using the Internet every day can help lower the risk of dementia in older adults.
Regular internet use cuts risk of dementia by half
Scientists studied 18,154 adults between the ages of 50 and 65 over an eight-year period for their research. Participants were cognitively healthy at the start of the study and answered questions regarding their internet use. The results showed that people who surfed the internet regularly had half the risk of developing dementia than those who were unfamiliar with the web.
Specifically, people at the lowest risk of dementia were online for at least two hours a day. The scientists added in their study that “regular use of the Internet for long periods in late adulthood is associated with later cognitive impairment, although further evidence is needed on the possible adverse effects of ‘excessive use’.
How do neurodegenerative disorders present?
According to Dr Frédéric Aumjaud, psychiatrist, gerontologist and member of the Association of Private Practice Psychiatrists (AFPEP), neurodegenerative disorders can take different forms. There are several types, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia.
Neurodegenerative disorders are brain cell damage that manifests differently depending on the areas affected. For example, Alzheimer’s disease develops in a different region of the brain than Parkinson’s disease. The psychiatrist also points out that dementia is often associated with madness, but is actually due to the destruction of an elderly person’s abilities.
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