Surfing the net improves memory in older adults

A new study has demonstrated that digital literacy, or the ability to engage, plan and carry out digital actions in older adults can improve memory whereas people with no digital literacy are unable to sharpen their memory.

The study showed that digital literacy increased brain and cognitive reserve or lead to the employment of more efficient cognitive networks to delay cognitive decline.

The authors asserted that countries where policy interventions regarding improvement in DL were implemented may expect lower incidence rates for dementia over the coming decades.

Higher wealth, education and digital literacy improved delayed recall, while people with functional impairment, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depressive symptoms or no digital literacy showed decline.

The study is published in The Journals of Gerontology.