Digital Technology and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Hsu Erh-Chi, Jutkowitz Eric, Thomas Kali
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between different digital technology activities and cognitive domains in community-dwelling older adults?
Conclusion
Engaging in online activities can improve cognitive function in older adults, especially for women.
Supporting Evidence
- Online banking and social network visits were the most popular technology activities among older adults.
- Social engagement online had the strongest positive association with episodic memory and orientation.
- Online banking showed the strongest positive association with executive function.
- All five technology activities were more beneficial for females regarding episodic memory.
Takeaway
Using the internet for things like shopping and socializing can help older people think better.
Methodology
The study used repeated cross-sectional data and survey-weighted mixed-effect models to evaluate associations.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling older adults without dementia, with covariates including sex, age, race, education, and income.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.33-0.67 for episodic memory; 95% CI: 0.10-0.21 for orientation; 95% CI: 0.06-0.18 for executive function
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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