Abstract
To estimate the association between the internet and the gain or loss cognite along of four years in older adults. Longitudinal study, a population-based, with older adults residents in a capital of southern Brazil (≥ 60 years) surveyed in 2009-10 (baseline) and in 2013-14 (follow-up). The outcome was assessed by clinically significant gain or loss of four or more points in the score of the Mini Mental State Examination between the two interviews. The use of internet was measured longitudinally (maintained or not internet usage, stop use of internet, started using the internet, retained the use of internet). Odds Ratios (OR) were estimated adjusted for sex, age, household income, education level and cognitive screening at baseline. Respondents were 1.705 older adults in 2009-10 and 1.197 in 2013-14. There was a significant association between keep using internet and cognitive performance, with greater chance of cognitive gain (OR= 3.3; 95%CI 1.1 - 9.8) and lower cognitive impairment (OR = 0.39; 95%CI 0.17 - 0.88) for older adults who kept using the internet. Older adults who continue using the internet were more likely to gain significant cognitive and lower cognitive loss. Topromote the internet use in older adults can help a strategy for cognitive stimulation in older adults.
Highlights
IntroductionCognitive decline can significantly impair memory, learning, language, orientation, executive functions, speed of information processing, autonomy, and functional independence, affecting the quality of life and health in this population[5], in addition to being an important risk factor for disability, dementia, and death[6]
Individuals aged 60 years or older have a higher risk of cognitive decline due to the greater exposure to risk factors[1,2] and impairment in mechanisms of perception, reasoning, memory[1,3], praxia, language, attention[4], and learning[5].Cognitive decline can significantly impair memory, learning, language, orientation, executive functions, speed of information processing, autonomy, and functional independence, affecting the quality of life and health in this population[5], in addition to being an important risk factor for disability, dementia, and death[6].In this perspective, cognitive interventions are being studied and encouraged
The final adjusted model of the variable “lost four or more points in the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)” indicated a statistically significant association between Internet use and the outcome, with chances of cognitive decline being 68% lower for older adults who started using the Internet (OR = 0.32; 95%CI 0.11 – 0.95) and 61% lower for those who continued using the Internet (OR = 0.39; 95%CI 0.17 – 0.88) when compared to individuals who had never used it
Summary
Cognitive decline can significantly impair memory, learning, language, orientation, executive functions, speed of information processing, autonomy, and functional independence, affecting the quality of life and health in this population[5], in addition to being an important risk factor for disability, dementia, and death[6]. In this perspective, cognitive interventions are being studied and encouraged. Among the many kinds of cognitive maintenance, stimulation, and rehabilitation, the use of computers – through the Internet – is one of the most effective and considered a good alternative therapy in groups of older adults[1,11,12]. Internet use is a modifiable behavior that has proved to be effective in protecting cognitive function[12]
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