Google It, Ma!

UCLA scientists found that middle-aged and older adults can highly benefit from Google-ing a few times a week. In a recent study, 24 volunteers between the ages of 55 and 78, half the participants used the internet daily while the other half had very little experience. The volunteers were asked to perform web searches while undergoing fMRI scans. The initial scans are represented above in blue. The internet "savvy" volunteers presented more brain activity.

After this initial scan, the participants went home and performed internet searches of certain topics for one hour a day for a total of seven days over a two-week period. The participants returned for a second scan while searching other topics on the internet. These results are in red. Both internet savvy and inexperienced presented brain activity in the same areas of the brain. Thus, after a brief period of training at home, individuals who have barely used the internet before were able to enhance their brain activity to match those who have used the internet much more.

What does this mean? This means that something as simple as web searches can be a great brain exercise to enhance cognition in older adults. Online searches involve using a working memory and the ability to judge important and relevant information to extract. So, next time your Mom asks you a question, you know what to say.