Use it or lose it - How the Internet can help

A research team based at the University of California has discovered that experienced older Internet users are likely to enjoy improved brain function.

Until now scientists have been aware that ageing of the brain is a direct response to physiological changes, when brain cells may shrink and become less active. However it has long been known that reading, doing crosswords and other puzzles may help combat the ageing process. It really is a question of 'use it or lose it' and if older people exercise their brain it will continue to function well into advanced age.

The research team conducted a study using 24 volunteers aged from 55 to 76 - half were skilled in Internet use and the others were newcomers to the Web. Their brains were scanned while undertaking web searches and normal book reading tasks. It was found that brain function improved from both types of task but that, for experienced Internet users, engaging in web searches opened up and improved centres of the brain concerned with decision making and complex reasoning.

This is very encouraging news for all older people demonstrating that we can all continue to develop our brains as we get older and that the Internet with its wealth of choices is a huge and vital resource for the over 50s to 80 plus and beyond!

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